Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jun 20: It has come to light that online fraudsters have started targeting students.
In one case, fraudsters swindled money from the brother of a girl student here on the pretext of providing a smartphone and student scholarship of Rs 57,000.
A girl studying in the government first grade college at Car Street in the city had applied for student scholarship of department of backward communities in the month of March through the college. She had mentioned the mobile number of her brother for contact purpose.
Representational image
On June 19 an unidentified girl called on the mobile of the girl student’s brother and said that she was calling from the college where his sister was studying. "Your sister’s application for scholarship has been received. She will get Rs 57,000 as scholarship and also a 4G smartphone. You have to pay Rs 800 in order to get the same," she told him. The caller also sent a mobile link in which she asked him to enter the details of bank account number, mobile number etc. The brother of the girl entered all the details and sent OTP to the caller. Later through online banking, the caller took Rs 800 from the account.
The student's brother grew suspicious that he had been taken for a ride and called the principal of the college where his sister is studying. He was shocked to know that the girl who called on the phone was a fraudster. Many parents and students had got similar calls, but many did not respond.
When the brother of the girl called the same mobile number again, the person argued that it was not fraud and they would get the scholarship from the government. When he called the next time, the mobile went on switched off mode.
The principal of the college was quoted in the media as saying that no fee will be collected for any scholarship given by the government. Under no circumstances should anyone give bank details to strangers. If there is any doubt, call should be made to the college or the principal.