Swindlers cheat public in online animals sales
Swindlers have started to loot citizens in online purchase of sacrificial animals this year too. People are being fooled by swindlers as the pictures of sacrificial animals uploaded and the cattle delivered have a big difference. The victims have demanded the government take notice of the fraudulent activity.
It has been observed that this year many people are preferring online purchase of sacrificial animals owing to Covid. However, unscrupulous elements have become active to cheat citizens.
A victim of online fraud, Naveed, told The Express Tribune that he visited different cattle markets in the city to find an animal he could afford. However, he returned home unsuccessful owing to high prices asked by cattle sellers. Thereafter, his friends advised him to purchase sacrificial animals online.
Naveed said he purchased two goats worth Rs100,000 online from a social media page of a cattle farm. The buyer transferred the related sum to the vendor’s bank account, after which the delivery was made. However, he was shocked when the goats delivered were much inferior to those displayed on the vendor’s social media page. He complained the goats delivered to him were sick and feeble.
Another victim of online fraud Muhammad Yasin told The Express Tribune that he chose a cow worth Rs 150,000 on a social networking website from a vendor of South Punjab and he transferred money to him after the deal was finalised. However, the sacrificial animal delivered was inferior to what he chose online.
He urged people not to purchase sacrificial animals online as it is a complete fraud. He added people should purchase sacrificial animals only from cattle markets. Yasin said the victims of such types of fraud are confused where to lodge a complaint against the deceit.
Other people who have been swindled have demanded that the government to launch a crackdown against such elements and protect the people.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing officials confirmed that they had received complaints regarding fraud in the online purchase of sacrificial animals. They said different teams were taking action against those looting people through deceit.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2021.