Fraud in the name of mobile tower:Don’t fall for the lure of big earnings, understand from experts how to avoid this scam

Imagine, you have a field, an empty plot, or a large rooftop. One day, you suddenly receive a call or message offering you to install a mobile tower there and earn 30-50 thousand rupees rent every month. Many people trust this attractive offer without any investigation. Taking advantage of this trust, fraudsters are committing scams. They pose as officials from a telecom company or a government department and lure people with high rent, advance payments, and job offers. After that, they extort money in the name of registration, processing fees, NOC, or security deposit. In many cases, they also commit identity and identity-related fraud by taking Aadhaar, PAN, and land documents. Recently, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also issued an alert regarding this. Therefore, in today’s ‘Cyber Literacy’ column, we will talk about this scam that happens in the name of tower installation. We will also know that- Expert: Rahul Mishra, Cyber Security Advisor, Uttar Pradesh Police Question- How is fraud happening in the name of installing mobile towers? Answer- Fraudsters first win people’s trust. Then they trap people by luring them with fake documents and high rent. After this, they ask for money and important documents under different pretexts. See the complete scam in the graphic. Question- How do fraudsters trap people? Answer- Understand with pointers- Question- Who do fraudsters target the most? Answer- Thugs usually target people who own farms, empty plots, or large rooftops. They also target people who have less awareness about such scams. These include- Question- What documents do thugs ask for to install a tower and what are the risks of sharing them? Answer- Thugs ask for property and identity-related documents in the name of tower installation. Later, they use them for fraud and blackmail. See the complete list of documents in the graphic. Question- By what pretexts do fraudsters ask for money? Answer- Fraudsters make excuses of different charges to extort money, such as- Remember, no legitimate telecom company asks for such fees from the landlord for installing a tower. Question – What to do if someone offers to install a mobile tower? Answer – Offers to install mobile towers without an application are usually fraudulent. If such an offer comes, then- Question- How to avoid scams related to mobile tower installation? Answer- If you receive any offer to install a mobile tower, first investigate it thoroughly. A little caution can save you from significant loss. Therefore, pay special attention to some points given in the graphic- Question- Do telecom companies directly contact people for tower installation? Answer- Large telecom companies or their authorized infrastructure partners work according to a defined process. They do not contact individuals personally. If someone offers an attractive deal through calls, messages, or fake documents, it is a fraud. Question- Do genuine mobile companies ask for money to install towers? Answer- No, legitimate companies do not ask for registration, processing, NOC, security deposit, or installation fees from individuals providing land or rooftops. If someone asks for money to be deposited first, it is a fraud. Question- Does any government department or DoT issue an NOC for installing mobile towers? Answer- The process of installing mobile towers requires permission from different local bodies and relevant rules. However, no government department or DoT (Department of Telecommunications) asks for money over the phone, WhatsApp, or email in the name of issuing an NOC for mobile tower installation. If someone asks for a fee to be deposited in exchange for an NOC or government approval, it is a fraud. Question- How to identify fake agreements, letters, or government documents? Answer- Thugs often prepare documents that look authentic at first glance. Therefore, do not trust merely by looking at the letterhead or seal. See tips for identifying fake documents in the graphic. Question- What to do if money has been given by mistake? Answer- First of all, don’t panic. The sooner you act, the higher the chances of getting your money back. In such a situation- Question- Where and how to complain about mobile tower fraud? Answer- Understand with pointers- Question – What is the correct procedure for installing a mobile tower? Answer – Understand the complete process through the pointers: Question – Approximately how much rent is received for installing a mobile tower? Answer- The rent for a mobile tower is not at a fixed rate. It depends on the city, area, size of the land or roof, network requirements, and company terms. This amount can vary in different regions.