Mobile service providers cautioned not to fall on fraud SMS

Mobile telecom service providers have cautioned users not to fall prey to fraudsters sending text messages claiming that the subscriber has won millions of dollars of prize money.
A security alert of AirTel says, “Calls announcing lottery and other prizes and demanding processing fee via TV recharge coupons and other modes are fraudulent. Please ignore such calls.”

The police said Nigerians assisted by local cheats are behind the fraud and cases can be booked under the Information Technology Act and Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.
An SMS received by an important personality of the state who refused to be identified says, “Your mobile number was selected as the winner of $500,000 in the British Telecom mobile award. To claim your prize contact Rev. John Birth promm@hotmail.com.”
Mobile users who reply to the text messages are asked to pay processing charges through cheques and drafts.
Gullible cellphone users, who feel that they hit the biggest jackpot of their lives, deposit the processing fee in the fraud accounts.
“The Nigerians come here on business visa and start duping people. E-mail fraud is common. Now, they have started targeting cellphone users,” said a police official.
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has put regulations to identify the origin of the unsolicited alphanumeric messages.
According to TRAI regulations, any subscriber who receives unsolicited commercial
communication can make a complaint with the details to the authorities.