VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, May 21: As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the mining department secretary Pooja Singhal and launched an investigation into the alleged money laundering through illegal mining, cybercriminals are now calling mining officers to extort money in the name of the ED. It is not surprising that in most of the cases the caller posing as an ED official has some inside departmental and personal details of the official concerned including assets.
“Hello, I am from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and we are investigating your role in illegal mining. I can save you from the money laundering case if you are ready to negotiate and pay. We know the house you have built and your other properties,” an official of the mining and geology department received one such spoof call about four days back.
The caller insisted he pays money to avoid any notice from the ED and warned that the official will face a problem if the ED launches a probe. But the officer who has served in districts including Ranchi, Palamu, and others, sensed a foul play and asked him to prove his credential and further said that he should come with a proper notice.
The officer was surprised to know that he has a house in his native state. The officer who lives in Ranchi has not lodged any FIR that it may attract the attention of the ED towards them. They are not even ready to disclose the mobile number the said cybercriminal used to call him.
When the credential of the mobile number was checked on a popular mobile App, it was seen registered as Commissioner ED with the official logo of ED.
Another official of the mining and geology department under the Doranda police station area received similar calls from an imposter. He was asked to pay Rs six Lakh or three months’ salary to delete his name from the list of suspected officials whom the ED has decided to summon. The official repeatedly received calls from the imposter who demanded money. The officer later on using his other sources found that the call was apparently made from out of Jharkhand. It has been learnt that many other officials of the department have received such spoof calls.
The ED so far has summoned three mining officers namely Bibhuti Kumar of Sahibganj, Pradeep Sah of Pakur and Krishna Kumar Kisku of Dumka. Bibhuti Kumar has sought more time to appear for questioning.
“That is called aapda me avsar,” said an official. “Everybody is terrified and worried as the ED is investigating. Scamsters have found a new scope to cheat money by posing as an ED official,” said the officer.
