KATHMANDU: Did you receive a message asking you to visit the hospital for coronavirus test? If yes, be aware of such message, you may have been targeted by the swindlers.

According to Central Intelligence Bureau(CIB) of Nepal Police, the racketeers have taken to looting people sending them fake messages since last few days.

According to CIB’s spokesperson Bel Bahadur Pandey, after finding that some thugs have been launching a loot campaign sending the news to join the coronavirus test mandatorily. The swindlers not only ask the person to join them for the test, but also threat to force them to pay 15,550 per person.

The police have found such gangs using various aps to send messages to their prospective pray.

Where does the SMS come from?

According to the record in CIB people receive message  saying, ‘According to our records, you have been in contact with someone who is corona positive, you are requested to self quarantine yourself and maintain distance with family members and friends.’

It further asks them to join them for PCR tests at the designated time and place.

“Please be present at the scheduled time and location for your PCR test,” the message further reads and below the text they include the date and time.

Stating that the test is mandatory, the message warns the targeted people to fine 15,550 in case they fail to attend the test.

“Your presence is mandatory else Rs 15,550 will be fined and you will be shifted to Kharipati quarantine facility,” the message goes ahead in the warning tone.

According to Bureau’s Spokesperson SP Pandey, such messages come through aps rather than from a person’s mobile. The message is found in English language.

What should one do in case such SMS come?

CIB spokesperson Pandey advises people to ignore such messages as such messages have resulted due to ill-intent people.

He suggests the recipients of such messages not to sent their personal details and not to click such links as well.

In addition to it, the person who recives such messages should submit the details to the police.

CIB has asked people to be aware of such messages which may come from the ill-intent, criminal minded people. They held mobile phone users as most vulnerable in this regard.