While the rise of the internet has made life simpler in many respects, it has also broadened the kinds of frauds that can be perpetrated on the public.
This was the case with several impersonations of VIPs, including at least three elected representatives in the state – Speaker of the Assembly Metbah Lyngdoh and cabinet minister James Sangma and Sanbor Shullai.
A fake WhatsApp account posed as the Speaker to try and dupe people into buying Amazon gift cards for him. The messages said that he was too busy in meetings to purchase them but would reimburse the message recipient.
It (the internet) makes things easier but it is scary some times. People have to be careful before getting carried away and verify and crosscheck the information and messages they receive, Lyngdoh told the press today.
He also informed that the impersonator managed to contact several of his colleagues, including legislators.
“They (the legislators) forwarded me a screenshot of the messages that they got from that WhatsApp number,” said Lyngdoh, adding that they had found the type of message unusual and thus called him up, whereupon the Speaker learnt of the impersonation.
Similar messages were sent in the names of Sangma and Shullai. Police have issued warnings to the public not to be taken in by these kinds of frauds.
