HYDERABAD: Eleven advertisements selling second-hand products on online marketplace OLX were blocked in July, according to Hyderabad
cyber crime police.
According to police, these ads were found to be suspicious and posted online to trap people. Every month, on an average, 10 to 15 such advertisements were being blocked on online marketplaces to prevent frauds. In the last three months, police have registered 12 Olx fraud cases. "There is a dedicated team to sniff out such (fraud) ads. If it is found suspicious, we inform the firm and get it blocked," ACP Cybercrime, G Chakravarthi said.
Police have been conducting decoy operations to prevent such crimes, but once the offender is blocked on a particular platform, they move to another forum to lure gullible people.
"Citizens need to be careful while buying products from online marketplaces," Hyderabad additional DCP, Cybercrime, Raghu Vir said.
Police said there was a risk in checking a product in person as well. In a recent case, a man was kidnapped and robbed after he went to Delhi to buy a Swift Dzire.
"The fraudster asked the victim to come to Delhi to collect the car. He was then asked to go to Gurgaon. Later, they robbed him of all belongings. He was left with just enough money to return to Hyderabad," a police source said.
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