Online fraudster poses as BBMP Comm to run 'Amazon gift-card' scam

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

After targetting a Karnataka High Court judge and the chief commissioner of central tax, cyber fraudsters have now used the BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath's name to run an Amazon gift-card scam.
The top official of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has been targeted by cyber fraudsters who have sent SMS and WhatsApp messages in his name. BBMP Ch i e f on Thursday tweeted that a fraudster had been using the number 7076522681 and misleading officials and the public.

The conmen used the chief commissioner's photograph as the WhatsApp display picture and reportedly messaged some people known to the commissioner. It has been mentioned in the report that messages regarding an Amazon Gift Card and a link to the Amazon website were sent through the number. BBMP’s Director (Information Technology) then released a notice alerting those who may receive calls from the number and requested them to inform the Cyber Crime division of the police.

An FIR was registered at the Central Division CEN (Cyber, Economic and Narcotic Crimes) Police Station under the Information Technology Act (2008) on Thursday by Nagesh K of the BBMP IT Cell.

Similar incidents

Last month, a similar incident took place in the city, in which links to ‘gift cards’ were used. The fraudsters had then claimed to be a High Court judge and commissioner of central tax. The case was brought to the notice of the police by an assistant secretary of the Karnataka legal services authority, who received the message.

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) had also dealt with a similar online fraud in which consumers received fraudulent links as bill payment links. This was accompanied by a warning that their power supply would be cut if they failed to pay on the link sent.