[New Delhi: The Department of Telecom (DoT) has recently sounded the alarm over a rising scam that leverages the popularity of India’s much-loved cricket icon, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Devious con artists are reportedly reaching out to fans over social media platforms such as Instagram, claiming to be the former Indian cricket team captain and asking for financial assistance.
The DoT has disseminated its advisory through a tweet, urging the public to remain cautious and report any suspicious activities. The official statement from DoT India specified, “Beware of scammers trying to bowl you out! If anyone claims to be the legendary MS Dhoni seeking bus tickets, it’s a googly you don’t want to catch. Report them faster than MS Dhoni’s stumpings on Chakshu at SancharSathi”.
The scam usually involves fraudsters sending messages to unsuspecting individuals, impersonating MS Dhoni. The messages often contain what is purported to be a selfie of Dhoni as “proof” of authenticity. The texts typically request immediate financial support for a supposed emergency. One such message reads: “Hi, I am MS Dhoni, messaging you from my private account. I am currently in the outskirts of Ranchi and I have forgotten my wallet. Could you please transfer ₹600 via PhonePe so I can return home by bus? I will send the money back once I am home.”
To tackle this matter head-on, the DoT has highlighted the role of the Sanchar Saathi portal. This initiative was developed to safeguard citizens against various fraudulent activities, including identity theft, forged ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) documentation, theft of mobile devices, and diverse banking frauds.
Sanchar Saathi serves as a citizen-centric platform where individuals can take preventive and corrective actions with ease. It provides essential services that enable users to verify any telecom connections registered under their names, report connections they do not recognize or require, block mobile devices that are either lost or stolen, and verify the genuineness of an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number before purchasing a mobile phone.
In response to the scam, DoT has called upon people to not get ensnared by fraudulent appeals and to promptly report such occurrences through the Sanchar Saathi portal. This swift reaction is crucial to prevent the scam from claiming more victims and to help apprehend the imposters.
The ministry’s warning is particularly relevant in a time when the reach and influence of social media platforms can be a double-edged sword—connecting fans with their idols while simultaneously opening up avenues for miscreants to exploit this connection. Cricket aficionados and loyal fans of MS Dhoni are being cautioned to keep their wits about them and double-check any unexpected fundraiser requests, particularly ones that reportedly come from high profile personalities like Dhoni.
This scam serves as a reminder that vigilance is key in the digital age. With criminals becoming more sophisticated in their methods, it is incumbent upon institutions and individuals alike to remain on guard and take advantage of every tool at their disposal to combat such deceitful operations.
The Department of Telecom’s proactive approach in notifying the public and providing a platform for addressing such incidents stands as a commendable effort to protect citizens from the growing menace of online scams that prey upon the trust and affection for national figures. It’s a race against time to intercept these unscrupulous acts, and the community’s participation in reporting these attempts is an invaluable asset in this endeavor to uphold public security and trust.
