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The National Crime Records Bureau reports that over 11 lakh cases of cyber fraud were registered in the previous year.
Having learned the most popular scam tactics, here are five ways to avoid and fix them. (Representative image)
The threat of cybercrime never goes away. Your financial information being stolen by hackers may seem like the only type of cybercrime you need to be concerned about. But it might not be that simple. The issues are not limited to simple financial ones. Because new dangers are emerging every year, cybercrime is still evolving.
Over 11 lakh cases of cyber fraud have been registered in the past year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. The elderly community is particularly vulnerable, according to current trends. They must first be informed of the four types of scams that are most prevalent right now:
The scam uses customer support
Let’s start with the customer service scam. Instead of contacting genuine help channels, customers call fictitious numbers that appear on video-sharing websites or in map results discussion threads. The scammers persuade the gullible victims to install screen-sharing apps on their mobile devices. And Mobile hijacking is the term for this.
Virtual arrest scam
The second scam is the virtual arrest. Using the victim’s identification, scammers pose as law enforcement, customs, or police officers and claim that a crime has been committed. With severe threats, they force the victim to lock themselves in a room and demand a string of payments over a lengthy time.
Scams using Aadhaar
Third, a form of financial fraud known as the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) scam occurs when criminals take money from a victim’s bank account without that victim’s knowledge or agreement by using their Aadhaar biometric information.
Frauds through social media
Not to be overlooked are social media scams. Fake accounts are made by scammers on chat and social media platforms. They use readily accessible images from the internet to steal identities. They create distressed situations in online chats and trick victims into sending urgent money. The victims think they are assisting family members in an emergency, but it turns out that they are being duped.
Here are five preventive and corrective actions to take now that we are aware of the most popular scam tactics.
- To avoid AePS transactions without your permission, lock your Aadhaar biometrics. Visit the UIDAI website’s Myaadhaar area and follow the instructions to lock or unlock your biometrics.
- Be extremely cautious when interacting with strangers or unidentified service providers, particularly if they request that you install software or download any apps. A reliable subject matter expert should be consulted before granting access to any of your devices.
- Don’t forget the fundamentals: when you are paying, you must scan a QR code. Remember, you don’t scan a QR code to get cash.
- See a reliable professional to help you with the matter if someone you don’t know has sent you money or says they sent more by accident.
- Consider carefully whether an SMS or link is reliable. It might be a spoof. If in doubt, wait to interact with the counterparty until you have proven their credibility.
