THIS is with reference to the letter `Fraudsters at Plaza` (Nov 10). I have reasons to endorse the views of the victim who got ripped off in broad daylight at Karachi`s busiest, but notorious area where automobile parts, accessories and electronic items are sold, spreading from `Plaza` to the `Regal Chowk`.

The irritating thing is that such activities have been going on for a long time. I have been a victim myself of these fraudsters.

Back in 1997, I went there just to buy a rubber seal for my father`s 1979 model car. One little boy approached me, offering to fit that seal at a nominal charge. He was well-trained to convince me to move the car a few yards off the road which was actually the den of the group of goons.

Six to eight well-built hoodlums, who looked more like dacoits, surrounded my car and all of a sudden started removing old rubber linings of car doors, trunk, bonnet, etc. Despite my resistance, theydid not listen, and since there were no cellphones in those times, I was completely at the mercy of those looters.

The goons giggled and said they would have a party later in the evening. After about an hour of putting in a few substandard rubber linings, which were worth nothing more than Rs500, I was forced to pay them Rs7,000. The amount was my entire month`s salary at the time.

They took me to an ATM and got the money taken out. I could not cry for help as it was a Sunday and the area was deserted.

Some locals showed sympathy and advised me to never come alone with a car in the area,andneverletanyone touchthe car unless the mechanic was known and from a reliable workshop in the vicinity. I wonder how such daylight robberies have continued unabated when the Preedy Police Station is hardly 50 metres away from the spot.

Farrukh Safdar Karachi