Scamsters are all around us seeking to trap vulnerable people. Such people are well versed in English communication skills and acquire required technical knowledge to dupe people. The modus operandi is to phone people and to convince them that a jackpot is waiting to be disbursed on making a petty payment. I was contacted by someone who identified himself as an official from Punjab National Bank insurance company. The person claimed that I had purchased an PNB Metlife guaranteed income plan in 2012 by paying a sum of Rs 50,000 and that I failed to pay subsequent installments for 2 years. This nonpayment invalidated my policy and I was asked to pay the dues so that I would get maturity benefit. To make matters look genuine, I was told that they would raise a docket number which I was prompted to key into the PNB official website to make payment. At this juncture, majority of people would fall in this trap. However, as an alert citizen I quickly made an inquiry in the regional office in Panjim where the fraud was confirmed. I urge all people to be very careful in dealing with such fraudsters who lure people into money.
