The government has issued a major public warning about a sophisticated new scam where fraudsters are tricking property owners into paying money by promising to install 5G mobile towers on their land.Scammers are creating highly realistic but completely fake documents, including letters and emails, that appear to be official "No Objection Certificates" (NOCs) from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) or the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). These fraudulent letters promise victims high monthly rent in exchange for allowing a 5G tower to be installed on their property.The catch comes when the fraudsters demand a "processing fee" or a "government tax" to finalize the deal. They instruct the victim to deposit this money into a personal bank account, after which they disappear.The DoT has clarified the situation with a stark warning: Government bodies like TRAI and the DoT are NOT involved in the installation of mobile towers. This work is done exclusively by licensed Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, or by authorized Tower Infrastructure Providers (IPs).Furthermore, no legitimate company or government agency will ever ask you to deposit a fee into a private individual's bank account.How to Protect Yourself and What to Do:Be Immediately Skeptical: If you receive an unsolicited offer via letter, email, or SMS about a tower installation, treat it with extreme caution.NEVER Pay a Fee: Do not transfer any money. This is the biggest red flag. Legitimate processes do not require upfront payments into personal accounts.Verify with Official Sources: If you are interested in having a tower installed, contact the Telecom Service Providers directly through their official websites or offices. You can find a list of legitimate TSPs and IPs on the Department of Telecommunications website.Report the Crime: If you have been targeted by this scam, report it to your local police immediately to help prevent others from becoming victims.Stay vigilant and always verify any offer that seems too good to be true.
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