Black magic, the new black in cyber-preying

Manama

A group of black magicians has been trying to lure Bahraini residents, especially people of Indian origin, it has emerged. The self-proclaimed magicians are using social media networks to attract their prospective victims, with headlines such as ‘vashikaran mantra to control husband, in Bahrain.’ They make posts on social media networks claiming wives can subdue their husbands, through their ‘black magic.’

Modus operandi

When a DT News reporter contacted one of contact numbers posted with such an advertisement on Twitter, the magician claimed that he belongs to the Indian state of Rajastan. The reporter, pretending to be client, sought the help of the magician to “help his sister to subdue her errant husband.”

The magician then asked the reporter to send the photo of his sister and her husband through the mobile messaging app WhatsApp so that he could conduct ‘preliminary investigation.’ 

When the reporter said he didn’t have the photos with him at the moment, he was asked to send their names through SMS. Immediately, names of an imaginary couple were sent to the number.

When he was contacted after five minutes, the magician, who addressed himself as ‘Guruji,’ came up with initial ‘investigation results’ that his brother-in-law is not listening to his sister because some person has subdued him using witchcraft.

“The person might be a woman or man. To find out the person, who has subdued the subject, another black magic ritual should be performed. The ritual will also free him from the clutches of the person who subdued him,” the ‘Guruji’ said. Claiming a hundred per cent success rate, he added that as soon as the ritual is performed, the brother-in-law would be under complete control of his sister.

The transaction of money

As the next step, the Guruji told the reporter to bring a lemon, eyeliner and a red cloth to his house and contact him afterwards. 

He said that he would perform three rituals, using some wooden pieces. And every ritual costs Indian Rupees 5500 (About BD32). Therefore, the Guruji should be paid Rs16,500 to perform these rituals. 

“But the result is guaranteed,” he assured again. The Guruji then messaged his name identifying himself as ’Shiv Ratan Gulajhari Lal,’ asking the reporter to send money through a particular money transferring service.

‘Fake Gurus’

According to Hindu religious scholar Ram, this act of so-called ‘black magic’ is nothing but fake act. These magicians are luring people to make money through easy ways, he said. He requested people not to fall prey to such meaningless acts.