Some persons are using the true caller application to defraud people by impersonation and to extort money from them.
A man may call you claiming to be an officer of J&K Police. The name of the caller may appear on the true caller with the photograph of a genuine police officer. But this is all fake.
One of the phone numbers is 8926243995. It has registered itself on a true caller application as Tahir Ashraf, SSP Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, along with the photograph of this police officer.
“Using name of a genuine top police officer, this impersonator is calling people in Kashmir to threaten them, rob them, extort money and blackmail them,” an aggrieved victim told Brighter Kashmir.
In J&K Police, Tahir Ashraf has served as SSP, Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, and is currently posted as SSP (CID).
The officer has also informed people to be aware of phone scammers using his name and picture after he came to know about the impersonation and the fake calls being done in his name.
“BE AWARE- This user is using my pictures and threatening people randomly. Please report to the nearest Police Station,” Ashraf tweeted.
Criminals have been using the true caller application for fraud. Their modus operandi is to purchase a SIM card and then register the number on a true caller to impersonate influential people or government officers.
The receiver of calls after checking on the true caller starts believing the impersonator is a genuine person, and thus, falls prey to the scammers.
During the tenure of Tahir Ashraf as SSP (Cyber Crime), police recovered crores of rupees from hackers who had targeted several people while posing as bank officials and owners of online business centres.
Talking to Brighter Kashmir, Tahir Ashraf said people must be aware and report fraud calls to the nearest police station.
The police, in its awareness campaigns, have reiterated that the need of the hour is for people to remain vigilant and alert about such frauds.
“In most cases, we found that the victims were not aware of the frauds. People should remain cautious about strange phone calls, messages or e-mails regarding the lottery and shouldn't share their account details and credit and debit card details with anybody," Ashraf said.