Hyderabad: Ms M. Shailaja Raghunandan, a housewife of Bapujinagar in Bowenpally, received a call from a strange number on her mobile. The caller told her that her mobile number has won a lucky draw conducted by Deccan Resorts and invited her to their office in Secunderabad to collect her gift.
When she visited the office with her husband Mr M. Raghunandan, who is a senior checking inspector with the food and civil supplies department, the staff handed them a gift pack containing grocery sets and asked them to attend a brief introductory session about the firm.
They were told about exciting tour packages provided by the firm and that they can enjoy them if they take a membership for two years by paying Rs 50,000. They paid the money and waited for the holiday trip, but, later they found that the office was no more in the building, and the staff were gone.
The couple approached the Market police station and lodged a complaint. Many other victims, mainly couples, also fell prey to the same scamster. The case is still under investigation. None has been arrested so far.
City residents receive calls and messages from unknown numbers telling them about expensive gifts they have won through lucky draws. However, whoever follows up those calls usually ends up cheated. The fraudsters have different ways of convincing victims. They set up offices, make long term offers and make the victim sign on bond papers while collecting money. The crooks have taken the cue from notorious Nigerian fraudsters and the lottery scam.
“When we visited their office, they convinced us that they have branches in different parts of the country, and they would send us on trips to places like Ooty, Goa, and Tirupati. They also made us sign on bond papers and disappeared with our money,” said Shailaja Raghunandan.
Police tried to track the culprits, and found it difficult.
“It is almost clueless now. Their addresses, email IDs and other details were fake. The gang is still absconding,” said a police officer from the Market police station.
