Bangalore City Cybercrime Police's advisory to curb cybercrime
Bangaluru: You may be smart in your profession or business, but a moment of carelessness with your smartphone can cost you your hard-earned money in minutes. Cybercriminals are using sophisticated techniques to trick people and steal money from their accounts.
In Bengaluru, many people fall victim to scams through attractive or threatening messages on WhatsApp, Telegram, email, and other platforms, losing significant amounts of money. In the last four months alone, over a thousand complaints have been filed about such incidents.
Filing a complaint often doesn't result in recovering the lost money. It's extremely difficult for the police to track down and apprehend these cybercriminals. The chances of recovering stolen money are slim to none.
Cybercriminals use various tactics to lure their victims. You might receive messages promising easy earnings, part-time jobs, share trading opportunities, or lottery winnings. These messages often include links. Clicking on these links can compromise your phone or computer, allowing scammers to hack your accounts and steal your money. They are also skilled at tricking you into providing one-time passwords (OTPs) to complete fraudulent transactions.
Some scammers might call you, using persuasive language to extract personal information and OTPs. Once you provide these details, your money is as good as gone. They can also use threatening messages to intimidate you into complying with their demands.
The police advise people to be vigilant and not fall for these scams. Once hackers have your details and access your account, it's almost impossible to recover the stolen funds. The cyber fraud network is vast and intricate, making it difficult to pinpoint the source of the fraud.
Ironically, well-educated professionals, including tech experts, are often the victims of these scams.
To combat this issue, the Bangalore City Cybercrime Police have launched a campaign to raise awareness about cyber fraud. They aim to educate the public on how cybercrime occurs, how cybercriminals can steal accounts without the victim's knowledge, and what precautions to take to stay safe.
Here are some key points from the cybercrime police to help protect yourself:
- Cybercrime Defined: Cybercrime involves the use of computers, networks, or electronic devices to commit offenses. It's a crime under the Information Technology Act 2000.
- Motives: Cyber crimes are usually committed to make illegal money, though some are intended to defame individuals.
- Prevention Tips: Be cautious of unsolicited messages and links, don't share personal information or OTPs with unknown callers, and stay informed about the latest cyber threats.
By staying alert and following these precautions, you can protect yourself from falling victim to cyber fraud.
Common Methods Used by Fraudsters
- Share Trading Scams
Fraudsters contact victims through WhatsApp or Telegram, promising high profits from trading. They lure people into downloading trading apps and initially provide small profits to gain trust. Once the victims deposit significant amounts of money, the fraudsters disappear with the funds.
- FedEx Courier Fraud
Scammers pose as officials from TRAI, CBI, Customs, or the police. They call victims, accusing them of criminal activity like drug involvement or money laundering, and threaten arrest. The victims are then tricked into providing bank account details and other personal information, which the fraudsters use to transfer money.
- Online Part-Time Job Scams
Victims are contacted via WhatsApp or Telegram with offers of easy part-time jobs, such as liking YouTube videos or rating hotels. After completing small tasks and receiving payments, victims are enticed to invest more money with promises of higher returns, only to be defrauded.
- Honeytrap Scams
Scammers, often posing as women, make video calls and engage in explicit conversations, recording the interaction. They then blackmail the victim by threatening to release the footage unless money is paid. The fraudsters may also impersonate officials or reporters to further intimidate the victim into paying.
- Fake Insurance Fraud
Fraudsters contact victims pretending to represent top insurance companies through websites like WhatsApp or Telegram. They offer false information and promises of high returns, convincing victims to deposit large sums of money into various accounts.
- Matrimonial Fraud
Scammers connect with victims on social media, particularly targeting divorced women. They build intimacy, propose marriage, and then claim to need money for various reasons. The victims transfer funds, believing the scammer is abroad and will soon visit them.
- OLX Fraud
Scammers create fake accounts on OLX, listing vehicles at low prices and using photos of military or high-ranking officials to appear legitimate. They claim the vehicles are at the airport and require immediate payment, deceiving victims into transferring money.
- Fake Web Link or OTP Scams
Fraudsters send links to victims, making them click under false pretenses. Once the link is clicked, they obtain OTPs and access bank accounts to transfer money. They might also send links claiming the bank account will be blocked, prompting victims to provide account details.
- Loan App Fraud
Fraudsters target individuals in urgent need of money, requesting documents like Aadhaar to provide loans. They charge exorbitant interest rates and, if payments aren't made, they harass victims by distorting their photos and sending them to their contacts. This harassment has led to some victims committing suicide due to the unbearable pressure.
When Scammers Call...
- Be Alert!
- If you receive a call promising easy money from a stranger, hang up immediately.
- If you get a threatening call from someone claiming to be a government official or police officer, hang up and report the incident to the nearest police station.
How to Be Safe
- Use Strong Passwords
- Create unique and complex passwords for all your accounts.
- Be Cautious with Websites
- Only visit reputable websites. Avoid entering personal information on unknown sites.
- Avoid Suspicious Apps
- Do not download or use apps that request personal information without verifying their legitimacy.
- Don’t Click Unknown Links
- Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources on social media or in messages.
- Keep Software Updated
- Regularly update your devices and software to protect against vulnerabilities.
What to Do Immediately if You Are Scammed
- Call the Cybercrime Helpline
- Dial 1930, a cybercrime helpline available across all states in India, to report the incident.
- File a Complaint Online
- Log into the NCRP portal to file a complaint. If the scam involves financial transactions, the related bank accounts can be frozen immediately.
By following these guidelines, you can protect yourself from falling victim to cyber scams and ensure your personal and financial information remains secure.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
