A bogus foundation in the US President's name is duping people online
A bogus foundation in the US President's name is duping people online
Brand Obama may have taken a beating in the US, but as his three-day trip proved, it still sells well in India. Now, enterprising individuals are trying to cash in, courtesy the Internet. Modus operandi: the infamous Nigerian lottery scam. 
letter, no spirit: A copy of the mail that cyber experts believe is another
Nigerian lottery fraud. Pic/mid day
Recently, a lot of people have been receiving spam mails, sent by the 'Obama's Foundation', promising donations to 'scam victims'. The e-mail asks the recipient to furnish personal details to become eligible for the endowment.
The mail received by Mukesh Kumar, an NGO worker from Delhi, reads: "You must be aware that American President, Barack Obama is on three-day visit to India starting Saturday. He visited various places and in the process announced various donations on organisational as well as individual basis."
"On behalf of the Obama's Foundation and United Nations, we wish to notify you as a beneficiary of USD 500,000 in compensation of scam victims. This is to bring to your notice that we are delegated from the Obama's Foundation and United Nation in Central Bank to pay 150 victims of scam $500,000 each. You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this amount," the mail says.
Cyber experts believe that this is just another Nigerian scheme. However this one uses the name of Obama and the United Nations to make things appear more genuine.
All the SMSes and mails circulating in the name of Obama's India visit, some of them also carrying his pictures, are fake, sent out to target innocent users. People could easily be deceived by the fact that Obama is in India and could possibly be donating money to people.
"During all mega events such spam messages are circulated as people are curious and end up getting fooled. But attacking users in the name of Obama is new. As he is among the top search items on the Internet lot of people are curious about his movement and activity via the web," said Vivek Vohra, a Delhi-based cyber crimes expert.
"Spammers also keep track of the most searched items on search engines. They draft their mail accordingly," added Vohra.
According to data on Google Trends, which provides insights into broad search patterns, the US President's visit was the most searched item on Google India on Saturday, November 6.
The search history shows that Indians have used keywords like 'Obama visit to India', 'Obama in Mumbai', 'Obama Biography', 'Air Force One' and other related topics. Cities like Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore saw a huge search for news and updates about Obama's India visit.
The mail sent from an HSBC bank email id, also warns that the recipient's particulars were mentioned by one of the syndicates, which was busted, as one of their victims of their operations. "You are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message for any reason whasoever as the US secret service is already tracing the other criminals. Other victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible consideration," it reads.
Web of woes
In February this year, three Nigerians were arrested from east Delhi for duping people through an Internet lottery scam, police said Tuesday. The trio - Smart, Godfrey and Iyobasa - was arrested for the fraud. The accused first informed the victims that they have won a lottery over the Internet and then charged some amount to help them claim it.
In March, a 35-year-old Nigerian involved in the online lottery scam was arrested in the Capital for allegedly cheating people of crores of rupees. The accused was identified as Ozoya Isaian (35) and a laptop, two pen drives containing data of bank accounts, addresses and phone numbers of victims, three mobile phones and one data card for Internet access have been recovered from him.
Isaian was nabbed following investigations into a complaint filed by a Pune resident earlier this month. In the complaint, the man alleged that he was cheated of Rs 22 lakh after he responded to an SMS that claimed he had won a lottery in the UK.
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| Foundation of truth |
| The Barack H Obama Foundation was founded by Abon'go Malik Obama, first born son of Senior Barack H Obama of Nyan'goma Kogelo village, Alego, Siaya, Kenya. The foundation is entirely the idea of Abon'go Malik Obama, in memory of their father, and is not dependent on the endorsement of his brother, President Barack Obama. |
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