How many different ways is fraud possible?
Taking out a loan in your name fraudulently or using a video call to blackmail someone are two of the most popular scams nowadays. These are the strategies we are currently aware of scammers using to defraud individuals. These are only a few of the ways that you could become a victim of fraud; there may be others that have not been recorded yet.
OTP Fraud
Con artists use a variety of methods to scam customers, such as asking for an OTP or posing as a product return. They often use social engineering and other techniques to gain access to the victim’s financial and personal information, as well as their phone. They also copy the victim’s phone number. These scams can be done in a variety of ways, such as asking for an OTP or posing as a product return.
Customer Care fraud
Scammers use bogus websites to register phony customer service numbers on Google, making it challenging for users to locate them. A woman was recently conned out of Rs 5 lakh by a con artist who got her to call the IRCTC customer service line to request a train ticket refund. The risks of doing information searches on Google are highlighted by this incident.
Via phishing link
The phishing link is a form of internet fraud that involves con artists emailing a phishing link to potential victims in two ways. In the first method, con artists fabricate a phony website and transmit it alone, giving the user the impression that their information is going to the real websites. However, all of the information submitted by the users is obtained by the con artists, who then defraud them.
Sim swapping
Scammers frequently utilize SIM switching to purchase several SIM cards under a target’s identity. They collect user information via social engineering, phishing links, and other techniques before contacting telecom companies to obtain more SIM cards by tricking users into falling into their trap. Scammers utilize banking services to conduct transactions on the user’s SIM card while it is in their possession.
Money for like
The most crucial information in this essay is that con artists ask victims to like a video in exchange for money or a YouTube channel subscription. When the user slips into their trap, they persuade him to earn more money, even if they first pay for certain films. In a case in Pune, a retired army officer lost more than Rs 1 crore as a result of con artists who offered him Rs 50 for each like.
Sextortion
This con is typically discovered through WhatsApp Video Call, when con artists send a user a message with a lady in an offensive pose. When the user disconnects, the con artists record a video of them and use it to blackmail them. The scammers promise to go popular on social media with their video in an effort to frighten people.
Work from home
Scammers prey on people’s desire to work from home by sending job offers via SMS or social media platforms. This is a fraudster technique that allows them to empty their bank accounts before they realize it and take money as soon as they are caught. Before becoming a victim of this fraud, people should be informed of it.
Electricity bill payment
Electricity bill payments are a common strategy for scammers to defraud customers. Users are often informed via SMS that their connection will be cut off today or tomorrow because their power payment has not been deposited. Users can prevent this by not dialing an unknown number and instead checking their connection information on the service provider’s website.
A lottery-related scam
Scammers send messages to people pretending to be from the lottery in order to con them, but they frequently demand payment for processing costs. This is due to the huge lottery prize, which makes it simple for consumers to fall victim to processing charges. Scammers frequently demand money under the guise of various fees, and victims believe they will receive it back with the final payment.
Discount game and Fake website
Con artists in Delhi-NCR have been stealing customers’ data and personal information by creating bogus websites in the names of well-known companies. This strategy has defrauded individuals of millions of dollars through the use of well-known shopping websites and platforms for payments and recharges. Scammers establish bogus websites using phrases linked to the false website when someone searches for them. After entering their information, the user gives it to the con artists.
Game with a subscription offer
Scammers frequently use email to advertise low-cost platform memberships. Scammers are sending emails informing individuals of policy changes and monetization, despite YouTube’s warnings to avoid falling for such tricks. The email contains an attachment that may be used to break into a device. This is a typical fraud about which YouTube has alerted users.
APK game file
Because certain software is not available on the Google Play Store, scammers utilize APK files to target tech-savvy individuals. By building phony websites that are essentially malware that steals data, scammers upload these files. These downloads are malware that takes your data rather than a game or piece of software. The risks associated with obtaining APK files from unofficial marketplaces should be made clear to users.
Tip to be safe
The most important details in this text are the strategies to avoid the trap of cyberfraud. These include being cautious when disclosing private information on social media, not clicking on any unknown links, looking up the customer service number, not downloading any unknown apps on your smartphone, not responding to any unknown video calls, not paying con artists to cover up the incident, purchasing a subscription only from the company’s official website or from an authorized partner, and not sharing an OTP. These actions are the most reliable approach to do so.
