Online fraud targeting blood seekers and donors in Kozhikode

According to a report in The Hindu, cases of extorting money from patients and their relatives by misusing emergency blood request messages circulating through social media groups have emerged in Kerala's Kozhikode district, leading prominent blood donors to demand police intervention. Unknown scammers contact those responding to urgent blood needs, offer to donate blood, and then demand advance online payment for travel expenses and other matters. After receiving the money, these scammers disappear without arriving to donate blood.

A group of regular blood donors associated with a voluntary organization in Mukkam revealed that these scammers are also misusing the contact numbers of voluntary organizations as references to win the trust of those seeking blood. A volunteer associated with the Mukkam-based organization stated that in a recent case, the 'Ente Mukkam' volunteer force had arranged a rare blood group free of charge for a patient undergoing treatment at a cancer care center with the help of a donor from Manjeri. Subsequently, unidentified individuals identifying themselves as students of the National Institute of Technology contacted the patient and demanded money to meet further requirements.

He further stated that they have traced one of the numbers used to contact the needy patients for further legal action. However, many victims have still not come forward to disclose their experiences or the amount lost. Donors have requested the police to investigate the matter and identify the responsible persons based on the digital evidence they possess.

According to police sources, such incidents have come to light for the first time in Kozhikode district. They added that an investigation will be initiated if written complaints with details of digital transactions are submitted by the victims. These incidents have raised concerns among several local voluntary blood donation networks active in the hilly areas, where social media groups are frequently used to coordinate emergency needs. Many of them are also expressing suspicion of the involvement of local scammers in these incidents.

In view of the recent fraud incidents, donors and voluntary workers associated with prominent voluntary groups have also appealed to the general public to verify the identity of potential donors through recognized organizations and refrain from paying money in advance to strangers under the pretext of blood donation.