In a shocking instance of cyber crime, an alleged fake website in the name of the National Energy Commission, shown as having its office in Bangalore, has been detected. Those behind the cleverly camouflaged web-portal are suspected to have cheated many job aspirants.
The website describes in great detail the function of the “government body”, claiming that it is responsible for formulation of policies and programmes necessary for popularising the application of various non-conventional and renewable sources of energy in the country. It then claims to be implementing projects pertaining to utilisation of solar energy, bio-gas, micro-hydal, bio-mass energy and related areas.
The website, in its “activities” link, also mentions that the department is acting as a nodal agency to implement the various Central and State-sponsored schemes or projects in the area of renewable energy.
The fake website, which bears an alleged National Energy Commission logo, was apparently registered in September last year, through an Internet address opened on a popular email service provider. It was updated till November, 2011, and is valid till September this year. It claims that the National Energy Commission, a Government of India body, has its office at Housa Halli in Bangalore. The website has several links showcasing various activities, such as research, “energies,” links for uploading documents, and links for downloading admit cards for allegedly conducted examinations.
A complaint in this regard, lodged by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Delhi Police on Thursday states: “This Ministry being the nodal Ministry for all Renewable Energy programmes and activities in India isn’t aware of any such Commission set up by the Government of India or any of the State Governments. We have doubts that this may [be] a bogus entity involved in fraudulent activities, as it can be seen in the website that they are inviting applications for a number of jobs, including 45 public relations officers.”
Interestingly, the website allegedly posted a cleverly drafted elaborate advertisement shown to have been released in November, 2011, seeking applications for the post of PROs, besides those of assistant area promotion officers and assistant accounts officers.
It also showed various categories of vacancies and invited only online applications.
The eligible candidates were instructed to download call letters and information handouts from the website itself, stating that no hard copies of the call letters would be sent by post. While taking the test, the candidates were supposed to bring the call letters along with demand drafts allegedly for Rs. 150 and Rs. 200, as per the category under which they fell, without which they wouldn’t be allowed to take the examination.
“Applications have been invited online, and they have no postal mailing contact address, which again strengthens our doubts regarding the genuineness of this entity. This Commission is conducting exams also and receiving payments. We have downloaded certain documents from the website which are self-explanatory,” said the complaint, seeking verification of the genuineness of the commission to prevent cheating, if any.
On the basis of the complaint, the Cyber Crime Cell has registered a case under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act.
“We have registered a First Information Report and are conducting an enquiry to ascertain facts,” said a police officer.
