‘Free mobile recharge of ₹239’: Cops warn of fake alert

 'Beware of the website http://westbengalfreerecharge. blogspot.com claiming free mobile recharges. This is a Cyber Fraud'

TT, Calcutta, 08.06.24: Kolkata Police have issued an advisory against a fake link that says chief minister Mamata Banerjee has initiated a scheme of free mobile recharge of ₹239.

In reality, the link leads those who click on it into a gaming site.

The police have alerted citizens through their social media handles mentioning that it is a cyber fraud. “Beware of the website http://westbengalfreerecharge. blogspot.com claiming free mobile recharges. This is a Cyber Fraud. Do not click on the link or you might face financial loss. Stay vigilant! Legal action is being taken against miscreants circulating such messages.”

The fake free-charge offer was circulated through WhatsApp and text messages. It mentioned that under the initiative of Mamata Banerjee, one can get a phone recharge of ₹239 for 28 days free by clicking on a link.

A senior police officer in Lalbazar said they came across several people who received these messages.

“We don’t yet know of anyone who has been cheated or defrauded through it till now. We wanted everyone to know that this is a fraud link and one must not click on it,” said the officer.

Another officer said by clicking on the link, a new screen appears and on clicking “OK” the screen is diverted to a page which ultimately leads to a gaming site.

“We have not come across anyone who has clicked on the gaming site or incurred any loss. But it is certainly not a mobile recharge site,” said the second officer.

A probe has been launched to find out the creators of the link and those who circulated it on social media.

A cyber crime cell officer said it was never advisable to click on unknown links even if they offered a discount or freebie.