CYBER CRIME & INTERNET FRAUD

We Recommend a Visit to the 
Cyber Crime and Internet Fraud Page at Yahoo
http://in.fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/India/Cybercrime_and_Internet_Fraud/

The Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) 

The jurisdiction of this Cell is all India, and besides the offences punishable under Chapter XI, IT Act, 2000, it also has power to look into other high-tech crimes.  

The CCIC functions under the overall guidance of Special Director (E), Joint Director, Economic Offences Wing II and the immediate supervision of Deputy Inspector General, Special Investigation Cell-III. The Cell is headed by a Superintendent of Police and has one Deputy Superintendent of Police, three Inspectors and one Sub-Inspector at present, besides other supporting staff.

The web site of the CBI http://cbi.nic.in/ has a lot of useful information. 

The complaints can  be made by Email to cbiccic@bol.net.in or sent to their Postal Address: Superintendent of Police, 
Cyber Crime Investigation Cell, 
5th Floor, Block No.3, CGO Complex, 
Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003
Phone: 4362203, 4392424

Some suggestions from the U S Postal Inspection Service to guard against mail fraud:  You should never have to pay to receive a prize or enter a sweepstakes contest. If payment is required, it's illegal. 

If you're told you're guaranteed to win a prize, or no risk is involved, be skeptical. 

Any lottery that involves a foreign country and is conducted through the mail is illegal. 

Legitimate charities don't ask for donations in conjunction with a contest. The problem is that many phony charities use names that sound or look like respected organizations. 

Don't give Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers or other financial information to callers you don't know. If it's a reputable group, this information won't be requested.

Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision. Get all information in writing before agreeing to enter a contest, make a purchase or give a donation. If you suspect fraud, contact the Postal Inspection Service.
  

Søren Hauge from Denmark reporting T. Nagaraju from India
Søren Hauge, a philatelist from Denmark wrote on August 21, 2002 in 'Indian Philately Discussion Group' http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indianphilately_disc_group/  warning regarding a philatelic impostor from India. 

"I have experienced serious philatelic fraud from a certain T. Nagaraju from India (T. NAGARAJU, 27-3-34/1-2, Sree Rampuram, Bhimavaram - 534202, India, phone: 0881626581, email: nagatraju@rediffmail.com) and thanks to a friend, I now know that I am not the only one. I feel obliged to inform you that this Indian person is perpetrating serious philatelic fraud with the persons that contact him. Mr. Nagaraju is visible on a number of philatelic websites - usually stamp exchange sites - where he daringly offers "each and every Indian issue since 1854" to all collectors that send him a mixture of old stamps (either from before 1900 or 1930) from their country.

Here is my story: I was one of the persons that sent him stamps (I sent him Danish and Swedish stamps to the Scott value of 112 USD), in the naive hope to receive similar Indian Pre-Independence stamps from my want-list. To me he wrote (13 June 2002): "I am a senior and serious philatelist. I have each and everything of India to offer. So please write what you want from India.... I offer all stamps of India from 1854 to 2002 (including used, mint, British India, Indian states and bob. I wait for your first pack. Yours sincerely, T. Nagaraju." He thanked me for my shipment 9 days after it was sent and promised to send for the similar value. Weeks went by and I didn't hear anything, - not even after 5 email-reminders with friendly (but increasingly worried) appeals to respond. I then persuaded two philatelic friends of mine to try contacting him as if they wanted to exchange. He immediately took the bait and responded just like he did to me. Now we knew that he had received all my mails, but not responded. After a few days of supposingly exchanging details my friends reminded him of me and asked why he didn't send the promised stamps. He then produced the story that the registered letter from me was opened and empty when he received it, and he had complained to the local Post Office in Bhimavaram. So for 47 days he had not responded to me (!!), but he willingly told my friend this tale. May I recall that he thanked me 9 days after I sent the stamps, and he did it with these words: "dear Soren Hauge, today I have got your pack. Thank you very much for the same. Mine will be follows. Yours sincerely, Nagaraju." (28 June 2002) We then warned him (10 August) that if he didn't return the stamps we would act accordingly. He has not responded for a week now, and he knows that I will contact you and many others.

One of my good Indian philatelic friends, M. S. Narayanan from Chennai, has now found crucial information from ITS STAMPS NEWS (Indian Thematic Society), Vol 5 No. 1 - March 2002. In this issue on page number 4 there is a comment from Mr. Saleem Khan who has clearly exposed Mr. T Nagaraju of Bhimavaram. Here I reproduce the comment in full:
"I received ITS collectors directory today. It's piece of art for philatelists. The ITS directory is already helping me in getting some serious partners. Thanks for the same. There is one person listed Mr. T. Nagaraju of Bhimavaram who is a fraud in all respects. I reported the matter to A. P. Police but his address is a letter drop only and he didn't show up there for days after that. The matter is with police now as a formal complaint of mail fraud is filed. Please remove him from your list as he may cheat others. Regards, Saleem M. Khan, Bhopal"

Judging from my investigation into the websites that hold his name, he has been doing this from at least 1999. I am currently writing to "CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA -STAMPS AND POSTAL HISTORY" at: http://www.junior-philatelists.com where he has a text, WWW.PHILATEX.COM where he is listed just like I am, and JUNIOR PHILATELISTS ON THE INTERNET at: http://www.junior-philatelists.com where he is also at a list. I will also inform all my other contacts, including all you here at this discussion group, hosted by Mehul Shah. I have also written to Suraj Jaitly, the editor for Indian Thematic Society, describing for him what I have experienced. Finally I would like to know how to inform the local police in Bhimavaram in Southern India, so they are updated with the fraud.

I am well aware that it is a drastic step to take, and I also feel a heavy responsibility by doing this, but the facts count for themselves, and for the sake of sound philately and right human relations based on honesty and friendship, I have decided to act as described.

Abhai Mishra commented on this that "it is very concerning to learn about the fraud from Bhimavaram. He is not only jeoparding good friendly philatelic relationship but also tarnishing the image of our country. We must all unanimously condemn his acts. Moreover, those of us who are living near Bhimavaram must inform the local police also. We must also try to blacklist him, from popular philatelic sites.