Bhopal: Even police officers investigating cyber crimes are becoming victims of scams. Despite being aware of all the tricks used by fraudsters, some officers are falling for their schemes and losing their hard-earned money from their bank accounts. These scammers lure them with promises of huge profits or lottery winnings, psychologically trapping them in their net. Complaints of fraud have been received in December and January from police officers posted at two city police stations. The ongoing struggle between cyber fraudsters and the police seems to reflect the saying “Tu daal-daal, main paat-paat” (you make your move, I make mine), as both sides continuously adapt their methods to outsmart each other.
While the police use the latest technologies to catch cyber criminals and raise awareness about online fraud, scammers are also equipping themselves with the latest tools and playing on people’s weaknesses, such as fear, greed, and the desire for quick profits. They deceive people by impersonating officials from agencies like the ED, CBI, or the Narcotics Bureau, threatening them with legal action, or enticing them with quick earnings through lotteries, betting, or fake stock market investments. Ironically, those who are responsible for protecting the public from fraud are themselves falling victim to these scams. Recently, two cases in Bhopal have come to light, where one constable and one inspector lost Rs 50,000 and Rs 80,000, respectively. According to officials from the cyber cell, anyone can become a victim of fraud, and it is crucial to remain extra cautious to avoid falling for these schemes.
Case 1: Lottery Scam In December, a constable posted at a police station in Zone 1 received a message claiming he had won a lottery worth Rs 3 lakh. When he clicked on the link, he was asked to send Rs 10,000 to claim the prize. Tempted by the offer, he sent the money. Soon after, he was told that the money had been sent to the wrong account and that he needed to send it again. The next day, he was informed that the lottery money was coming from abroad and that he needed to pay taxes under GST and TCS. The constable paid the amount, but after a while, he was given another date for further payments. He then told his colleagues at the station about the lottery, even showing them the certificate he had received. It was only then that his colleagues informed him he had been scammed. He reported the loss of Rs 50,000 to the cyber cell. Case 2: Investment Scam An inspector posted in a rural area lost Rs 80,000 in a stock market investment scam. He had been learning trading in the stock market and received a message claiming a 40% return within two months. He was intrigued and joined the scammer’s WhatsApp group. After seeing several people receive good returns, he got convinced and invested Rs 20,000 in the fake trading app. Over time, he increased his investment to Rs 80,000 as the returns appeared to rise. However, when he tried to withdraw his funds, he found that the money couldn’t be withdrawn. He filed a complaint in January, having lost the entire amount.
