SPAM REPUBLIC

The anatomy of a cybercrime hub

- SNEHA BHURA

In plain daylight, he is the sarpanch of his village in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. As the village head, he is responsible for resolving disputes and handing out punishment for notoriety. His name evokes fear and respect in the community. But mention the word "Olx" and he immediately clams up. "I don't know what t you are talking about. Don't waste my time," says the 62-year-old on the phone before he hangs up.

The otherwise respectable sarpanch is one among the many in his village who live an alternate persona on online platforms such as Olx, Indiamart, and Quikr. He is also known as the "Olx master" because of his many disguises as a prospective seller of sundry items. There were several arrests in his subdivision of scamsters luring buyers into thefts, where bank details were harvested in the guise of payment for listed items that do not exist. Most CNG fuel stops in Bharatpur have boards with warning signs against "Olx thefts". In the main town, crowded with electrical repair shops and pushcarts selling vegetables, locals respond with wry smiles to inquiries about Olx conmen. "That's practically everyone's side hustle here," says Pushpesh, a mobile shop owner, "First they were cheating people in the name of selling gold bricks and coins, now they have moved to selling home appliances, vehicles and whatnot online, often in the guise of Army personnel." Local cops talk about multiple instances of cyber thugs being accused in Olx frauds, sextortion, or setting up illegal call centres in slums and making off with lakhs in a month. But tip-offs and raids are like walking on eggshells; they constantly warn of violent reactions and counterattacks.