After online scam, calls from Pakistan promise money

First, there were Nigerian emails promising money to people and duping them. Now, people are getting calls from Pak informing them of having won a Rs 1 crore or Rs 2 crore lottery.

MUMBAI: First, there were Nigerian emails promising money to people and duping them. Now, people are getting calls from Pakistan informing them of having won a Rs 1 crore or Rs two crore lottery.

The numbers from which these calls are made are +92 and +9234, which the security agencies claim to be from Pakistan. Two armymen from Deolali camp in Nashik have received such calls. They have been asked to stay away from such calls as it may be an ISI ploy.

Additional commissioner of police (crime) Deven Bharti said, "There have been a few calls originating from Pakistan and we are probing the two cases that have been reported."

Police said that most victims are not reporting these calls. "They get scared when they hear that the caller is from Pakistan. They either switch off the phone or don't take the call," said an officer. The scam came to light when the security agency was keeping a tab on the incoming calls from Pakistan via a VSNL gate.

In the past, several innocent people fell for the Nigerian scam in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

The accused would send emails to victims informing them of having won several million dollars in a lottery through random selection of mobile numbers. They would ask the victim to deposit a certain amount in an e-account for various charges including the processing fees, custom duties and other legal formalities. To convince the victims, one of the Nigerian would also meet them. After receiving the money, the accused would sever all contacts with the victim.