Online scamsters are back

Targeting a specific segment, they promise expensive products at very low prices.

Two weeks ago a youngster in the city saw an online advertisement that a luxury car worth Rs. 16 lakh was available for a mere Rs. 5 lakh.

When the youngster called the advertiser, the latter asked him to deposit Rs. 1 lakh in his bank account and then have a look at the vehicle.

The advertiser claimed that the car was seized by the Customs Department and was parked in the Coimbatore International Airport. The person at the other end had also assured to refund the deposit if the prospective buyer did not like it. The youth and three other friends pooled in the money and paid the deposit.

As instructed by the seller, the four approached the customs personnel at the airport only to know that they were cheated. Assistant Commissioner for Customs, at the airport, S. Ananthakalyanakrishnan told

The Hindu that the youth were the third victims of the online scam in about a week’s time.

The official recalled that another man had paid Rs. 3 lakh as advance for a car worth Rs. 10 lakh and a third was a smarter person who came to verify if the advertiser’s claim was true.

He said that this scam is resurfacing after six months. In the end of 2015, a few persons were cheated in a similar fashion. Mr. Ananthakalyanakrishnan made it clear that the department does not seize or sell Indian-made cars. “We seize imported cars and products brought without paying duty. Such products, too, are only auctioned, or sold only at customs retail shops at Chennai or Trichy in a transparent manner,” he added.

While attractive offers for expensive cars are targeting a specific segment of customers, there is a similar scam at a smaller level to cheat college goers and youth. Advertisers quoting only a third of the price of expensive international brand mobile phones is picking up among college goers. Students are asked to pay a deposit and go to a particular place to collect the phone.

Victims have told the customs personnel that they transferred the money to the account number specified by the advertiser and that they were unable to reach the person after they knew that they were cheated.

Cyber Crime Police said that they are yet to receive any such complaints. The police have cautioned the public to beware of such advertisements offering expensive products for a very less price.

Asking people not to pay an advance for a product before they have a look at it, the police also asked people coming across such advertisements to inform the police about it.

Targeting a specific segment, they promise expensive

products at very

low prices