While most people use it to forward jokes, the popular instant messenger, WhatsApp, is now fast becoming the police’s best tool for promoting community awareness.
J.P. Nagar residents were put on high alert after the jurisdictional police sent out alerts warning them not to fall for a fraudulent salesperson.
The messages from J.P. Nagar station inspector S.K. Mahajan said a group of three to four persons might visit houses posing as representatives of a water company or Escom offering to change taps and bulbs. “They are robbers and mug residents at gunpoint. Please alert your contacts as you may save a life. Make sure the door is locked all times, use door chain always,” says the message.
The message was circulated widely in the area. “We are happy about this system where senior citizens like us get alerts and help us prevent such incidents,” Ramakrishna, a retired employee of a private firm, said.
Mr. Mahajan said conmen were constantly changing their techniques, and WhatsApp had become a convenient way to alert people. A few days ago, a resident of J.P. Nagar was duped by a group who made away with a few thousand rupees on the pretext of replacing bulbs in his house. The victim refused to file a written complaint, said the inspector.
The men then stole gold ornaments from an elderly woman by promising to enrol her in an old-age pension scheme of the government. The woman was taken to a nearby studio to get the “latest photograph” taken. When she removed her gold chain and bangles, the men snatched them and fled.
“As prevention is better than crime, through the WhatsApp service we are keeping our area safe,” Mr. Mahajan added.
