Fraud through cellphones
I WOULD like to highlight the misuse of cellphones and menace of fraud through text messages which is on the rise.
The government has recently announced rules for issuance of SIMs and IMEI numbers of cellphones.
The very next morning people received messages saying: “Dear customer, sim agar aap kay nam hai to confirm ke liye yeh code milaen *100*923073835171*35## wurna aap ki sim kuch dair main block ho jaye gi.”
The people who had heard the minister concerned about reverification of mobile connections immediately followed the instructions. This shows how the culprits play with their poor victims.
Another message is very common which says, “Aap ko malamal main 500 rupees mubarak ho. Aap yeh code milaen *100*03083481097*33# Aap ke balance main 500 ka izafa ho jaye ga.”
There is another message which usually offers some reward, “Dear customer, aap ne easy loud scheme may 250 rupees win kia
hai abhi ye code milaein.*100*923028392408*36# or foran 250 ka balance apni sim me hasil karein.”
All the above messages come from some mobile numbers, asking to transfer small amount to particular numbers.
They are easily traceable by law-enforcement agencies. In the present law and order situation when the people at the helm of affairs say that two, three murders or targeted killings are normal for a metropolitan city like Karachi, who bothers about minor crimes.
But the authorities perhaps are not aware that small but organised crimes lead to bigger and serious issues which ruin the peaceful atmosphere of the city.
Ongoing targeted killings, kidnapping for ransom, fraud and other crimes can be traced and curbed if a proper system of identification and issuance of SIMs and mobile connections is implemented.
MASOOD HASAN
Karachi
Source: Dawn
Date:5/3/2011
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