As online shopping continues to boom, Amazon Prime users are becoming prime targets for scams. From fake membership expiration notices to account suspension threats, criminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal personal information and money. This article provides expert advice and tips on how to avoid these scams and protect yourself.
Puja Khedkar, an IAS trainee officer, is embroiled in a series of controversies, ranging from misuse of official facilities to alleged fraudulent exam practices. Her actions have sparked outrage and raised questions about her integrity and fitness for the civil service. These controversies have led to her transfer, a probe into her claims, and calls for her removal from service.
A nurse shares her harrowing experience of losing her entire pension to a sophisticated scam, urging others to be wary of unsolicited messages promising high returns on pension transfers. She highlights the vulnerability that can arise during challenging times and the devastating impact of such scams on individuals and families.
A Chinese man, Zhang, was sentenced to 11.5 years in prison for defrauding his girlfriend, Huang, of 2.6 million yuan (about ₹3 crore) by pretending to be a doctor at a prestigious hospital. Zhang, a former hotel worker, fabricated his identity over a six-year relationship, exploiting Huang’s trust and love to fund his gambling addiction.
A 19-year-old Indian student, Aryan Anand, was expelled from Lehigh University and deported back to India after his elaborate scheme to secure admission and financial aid was uncovered by a Reddit moderator. Anand had forged transcripts, financial statements, and even a death certificate to gain entry, but his lies were exposed when he confessed in a Reddit post. He ultimately pleaded guilty to forgery and faced potential jail time but was spared after university officials intervened.
A US national fell victim to a fraudulent jewelry purchase in Jaipur, losing a staggering ₹6 crore to a local shop owner. The swindler, Rajendra Soni, and his son, Gaurav, sold the American tourist gold-coated silver jewelry, passing it off as authentic and providing a forged certificate. The truth was unraveled when the victim showcased the ornaments in the US, prompting her to confront the shop owners and file a complaint. However, the owners falsely accused the victim, leading to an impasse until the intervention of the US Embassy. Upon investigation, the police discovered that the original complaint had been ignored, and the accused individuals had absconded after purchasing a ₹3 crore apartment. The fraudulent certificate issuer, Nand Kishore, has been apprehended, but the shop owners remain at large.
A retired senior executive of a Germany-based pharma company fell victim to a sophisticated fraud, losing ₹85 lakh to a gang that posed as CBI, customs, narcotics, and income-tax officers. The incident unfolded via Skype calls, with the fraudsters coercing the victim into transferring funds through a cheque to a company called ‘Rana Garments.’ Investigations are underway in Visakhapatnam, where the fraud occurred, and Delhi. HDFC Bank, where the fraudulent transactions took place, has also filed a police complaint.
The Ontario government is introducing legislation to eliminate the ability for people to place Notices of Security Interest (NOSIs) for consumer goods on the land registry system. NOSIs have been fraudulently used to scam homeowners, and the new legislation aims to protect residents from this type of deception. The proposed bill also includes a mandatory 10-day cooling-off period for the purchase of new freehold homes, public disclosure when builders cancel purchase agreements, and an expansion of the Condominium Authority Tribunal’s jurisdiction over disputes.
Sixty Indian nationals who were rescued from fraudulent employers in Cambodia have returned home. The Indian embassy in Cambodia worked with Cambodian authorities to facilitate the return. The development follows reports of over 300 Indians being arrested in Cambodia for alleged involvement in cybercrimes and ponzi scams. The Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner said that many victims were trafficked to Cambodia through agents under the guise of data entry jobs in Singapore.
Owners of two Bangladeshi travel agencies, Al-Risan Travels and Dia International, have been banned from international travel after allegedly vanishing with funds from 523 Hajj pilgrims. The incident has raised concerns about the fate of their pilgrimage this year.
Al-Risan Travels registered 448 pilgrims but failed to secure visas for any of them. Despite repeated attempts, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been unable to contact the agency’s managing director, sparking fears that the pilgrims may have been defrauded.
Similarly, Dia International, based in Rangpur, collected Tk 3 crore from 75 pilgrims but failed to coordinate with the ‘Lead’ agency. As a result, these pilgrims have not received their PIDs (Pilgrim ID). The Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested a travel ban on both agencies’ owners to prevent them from evading justice.
