Shillong, Sept 6: Despite several advisories issued by police on cases of cheating with regard to cyber crime, people are still falling prey to such crime.

As preventive measures, the Meghalaya police have again advised the public to be alert of fraudsters who call up over phone/social media and not to give personnel information of themselves over phone to such person.

“For the past three years, there have been 41 cases of cheating pertaining to Facebook, and 92 cases pertain to ATM fraud. The public are requested to be alert of such fraudsters who call up over phone/social media and not to give personnel information of themselves over phone to such person,” Superintendent of Police (City), Vivek Syiem said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

Cautioning the public not to provide ATM number and the three digit CVV/CVC number which is on the front and reverse side respectively of the ATM card, Syiem said that callers usually pose as bank officials and speak eloquently in English or Hindi on banking matters.

“These calls mostly emanate from fraudsters hailing from the Jharkhand-Bihar belt,” he said.

Syiem also said that social media users especially those on Facebook should check their profile settings and allow access to only known persons so as to not fall prey to unscrupulous persons who ask for intimate photographs or videos and eventually resort to blackmail for money.

Police also cautioned that most fraudsters after having communicated with the victim over a period of time, use the ploy of being held up in an Airport and say they would be released only if a fine is paid to the authorities. “It is urged, that public should immediately go to the nearest Police station for any clarification or complaint on such matters. Confidentiality will be maintained on their request,” Syiem advised.

The public are also cautioned not to fall prey to callers who pose as online Naaptol employees who used to inform that a prize for a vehicle has been won.

Several payments are demanded to process the papers in order to get the prize after which, the victims would realize that they have been duped.