Some of the questions the elderly frequently ask and police’s response. The following questions and answers have been prepared based on conversations with senior citizens and veteran officers.
Is it safe to answer a call from an unknown number?
Yes, as long as you do not share your card/bank details.
What if the caller says that my number will be blocked? My phone is my only connection with my children, who don’t live in Kolkata.
Tell the caller that you will verify the status of your SIM card from the nearest store of your telecom service provider.
Can I seek the police’s help during a medical emergency? If yes, how?
If you are a Pronam member, you can call the officer assigned for the Pronam project in your local police station or you can directly dial the landline of your local police station.
The jurisdiction of police stations is often too confusing? What is the solution?
If you need to report anything, you can approach any police station. If the matter falls under the jurisdiction of another police station, ask officers of the nearest police station to get you connected to the police station concerned.
I have lost a lot of money in an online fraud. How can I get it back?
Immediately report the matter to either the local police station or call the bank fraud helpline at Lalbazar (8585063104).
Is it safe to pay bills online using a smartphone?
Yes. But you need to click only on genuine website links. Do not open or click random links popping up on the screen.
What to do if I receive a text message saying my debit card is about to be blocked and that I should call the number mentioned in the message to complete my KYC?
You should never call a number sent from an unknown number even if the message says your card is about to be blocked.
If an unknown person calls and asks me to do a transaction of only Re 1, should I do it?
No. Fraudsters can mirror your phone and by asking you to transfer a small amount, they can literally see your banking details and later use them to steal money from your account.
Is it safe to do online shopping?
Yes. But you should shop only from apps registered either with the Play Store (for android phone users) or the App Store (for iPhone users).