Visitors to Bharatpur, beware of these 'OLX conmen'
Conmen in Rajasthan's Bharatpur seem to have devised their own scam, and despite over 50 arrests, the racket is still thriving. According to police, they target gullible people through sites selling second-hand goods at cheap prices, mostly OLX. They then lure the 'buyer' to a deserted place and loot them. The scam is so common that authorities have now posted large banners warning visitors.
Here's how they lure, trap and loot unaware people
Two of the victims were Sanjay and Arvind Kumar from Uttarakhand. They sealed a 'deal' for a second-hand Mahindra XUV 500 at Rs. 4.5L. They arrived in Bharatpur in November and met four men who offered to take them to the 'seller.' Instead, they led them to a secluded spot, robbed the money they had brought for the car and their cellphones, and fled.
Even men in uniform have been targeted
Even cops have been targeted. Harbhan Singh, assistant sub-inspector at Kama, says he was shocked to find his own car listed for sale on OLX last August. He was alerted after an acquaintance saw the ad on the site and asked him about it.
Police putting up banners, alerting people on phone, social media
At least 46 cases have been reported in the last year in Mewat, of which Bharatpur is a part. 64 arrests have been made, but the racket continues and the MO remains same. Police have now put up billboards warning people about it. They are also reaching out on call and social media. OLX urges users to avoid "risk-prone areas like Mewat and Bharatpur."
