The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Beware, conmen on the prowl

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Beware, conmen on the prowl

L. Srikrishna

CHENNAI: “I wanted to sell my [microwave] oven … so, I placed an advertisement in a neighbourhood publication that published it free of cost. In response, a man came home on the pretext of inspecting the oven. After we agreed on the price, he went out to get the money. Only after that did I realise that my expensive mobile phone has been stolen,” according to G.Prasadh, a resident of Gandhi Nagar.

This is not a stray incident, as police say crime incidents in which the thieves gain confidence of their victims and seek access to their premises posing as sales staff or even mechanics are being reported at regular intervals.

Sometime ago, a businessman in Flower Bazaar was duped by a young man and woman who claimed that they were credit card marketing staff of a multinational bank.

Credit card fraud

After discussions, the young man, who spoke a fluent English, took a debit card in possession of the businessman, documents pertaining to income tax and ration card. The cover containing the credit card had the PIN number scribbled in one corner.

Leaving the woman behind, the ‘executive’ went out to get photocopies of the documents. The youth also went to an ATM outlet nearby and withdrew Rs.19,000 using the debit card.

He returned the card and other documents to the businessman and promised that the credit card request would be processed within a fortnight.

After some days, when the businessman checked his bank account, he was baffled to find that there was nil balance. Soon, he realised the trick played by the two-member gang.

The Flower Bazaar police registered a case and recently caught the youth, but he claimed to have spent the money.

A retired IPS officer said that till five years ago, police will track the criminals based on the offences committed. For instance, in any automobile theft complaint, the station house officer will pick up the suspect easily. But, today, it is not the case. A criminal steals anything that had easy access to him.

A case in point is that of an IT professional, whose laptop was stolen. The incident happened when the software engineer went to Bangalore leaving his aged parents at home with a woman domestic help for their assistance. A youth claiming to be a service engineer from a home appliances company came home and offered to inspect the air-conditioner.

After two days, when the software engineer returned, he found his laptop missing. When he enquired with his parents about those who visited their house in his absence, the domestic help recalled the visit of the ‘service engineer’ and showed him the business card. When he called the telephone number on the card, he got a recorded reply “check the number.”

Trained in impressing people

An officer in the Central Crime Branch police said that tricksters visiting homes during daytime were well versed in impressing the inmates.

Elders and domestic help at home have the practise of divulging all information to a stranger. They should be advised not to reveal the whereabouts, he said.

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