Beware tipplers! Fraudsters eyeing your money

Deepankar Sharda

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 5

Online fraudsters are targeting local Bacchus lovers in lieu of delivering the desired liquor brand on the doorstep amid the ongoing countrywide lockdown.

Since the lockdown was announced on March 23, the UT Administration has only allowed doorstep deliveries of essentials. However, online scammers are now vigorously eyeing the pocket of tipplers in the city by offering free delivery only after paying advance money on various social media platforms.

Making it look novel, these scammers have used photographs of various local wine shops to create Facebook pages and other websites. Several mobile numbers have been displayed on all these pages. Scammers take orders on these numbers. After confirming the availability of the brand, they ask people to pay through Paytm, Google Pay or through card in advance. Once done, the given mobile number becomes unavailable.

“There is no such proposal of delivering liquor in Chandigarh. No one is allowed to deliver any kind of liquor. Persons promising the same are fraudsters,” said Ramesh Kumar Chaudhary, Assistant Excise & Taxation Commissioner, UT.

He said: “We have been tracing these scammers and strict action will be taken against them. I also request people not to fall prey to such fake vendors. Anyone who is facing problem should approach us at the earliest.”

One of the owners, whose wine shop’s picture was used by these scammers, has already submitted a complaint with the Cyber Cell of the UT police.

“The scammers are using photographs of various wine shops in Chandigarh. After they displayed the pictures of our shop, we came to know about it and approached the police. A complaint has been registered. No one in the city is allowed to deliver liquor. This is something very disturbing that our name has been misused by these scammers,” said the owner on condition of anonymity.

“I personally made a few calls on these numbers. They confirmed to deliver a minimum order of Rs 2,000 (in advance) anywhere in Chandigarh or Mohali. The only major fault was that they don’t ask for any delivery address. They simply ask the customer to transfer money. They were not able to tell the exact location of their wine shop and kept on insisting that they will get it delivered straight from the warehouse. Truecaller traced these numbers to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh or somewhere in Uttar Pradesh,” said a youngster, who tried to purchase some liquor.

“As per the policy of the Government of India, abided by the Chandigarh Administration, liquor delivery is not allowed. Our operations cell is already on the case and blocking these fake numbers,” said Rashmi Sharma Yadav, DSP, Cyber Cell, UT police.

“We have received online complaints. Those found guilty will face the music. City residents should also come forward to report such scams. If any person or shop owner is found delivering liquor in Chandigarh, strict action will be initiated against the guilty,” she said.