Cyber Criminals Cheated a Woman to the Tune of Rs 25 Lakh
A number of unknown cyber criminals cheated an assistant professor in Eluru to the tune of Rs 25 lakh. The pair impersonated representatives from multiple organizations and allegedly told the woman she faced arrest for a nonexistent shipment of drugs. Read on to know more about the scam, how fraudsters operated in luring investors, and what should be done for protection.
The Incident
An assistant professor from Eluru, who was off work due to sickness, fell prey to an ultra-modern swindle. The next day, she got a phone call from an unknown person claiming to be calling her courier service in Mumbai. The caller told her that the parcel meant for her had 10 grams of narcotic drugs and also a passport and laptop inside, but it was connected to a terrorist outfit. He threatened her with jail time and implications for national security should she not comply to the fullest extent.
Methods Used by Scammers
Pose as an Officer of the Law and Rouse Fear: In a case, one caller impersonated the courier service telling her she has narcotics or supporting terrorism encouraging fear in the victim. A call impersonating a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer, followed by an email threatens to arrest them: false alarm! The pretend CBI officer even said some fake notices will be received by her and the Reserve Bank of India was about to ask for information regarding all bank transactions made. He told her she needed to empty all of her bank accounts and put the money into his account to avoid arrest, as well as more legal problems.
Preying on Fear and Solitude: These same factors that led to the coercion – this woman was alone and had health problems which made her more susceptible to being a victim into making payments. Stress and pressure force her hand to make three installments of the demanded sum, totaling Rs 25.6 lakh – she clears out both her salary savings account and all FDs.
Meanwhile, the woman’s relatives, following discovering about fraud, have advised filing a complaint with the police. A case was filed by the Three Town police in Eluru under Section 320 of IPC and IT Act. The miscreants are on the radar of police, Sub-Inspector Kancharla Prasad said in a release announcing that further probe into it is underway for nabbing them and recovering stolen cash.
Preventive Measures
Check the Caller: Always check who was on the call and verify their identity, even if someone says they are an officer or working with AB. Verify that the caller is from your organization: If there is any trouble verifying someone wanting to talk at a moment’s notice, look up one of their work numbers online.
Do Not Provide Personal Information: Never give out bank account details, PIN numbers, or passwords to anyone over the phone unless you made a call yourself relying on an authentic contact number. Watch out for anyone contacting you and specifically asking you to provide personal information.
Keep Calm and Get Help: In the event you feel threatened or intimidated, stay calm then seek help from your family, close friends, as well as reserved advice from attorneys. Report suspicious activity to local authorities and contact your bank immediately if you believe fraud has occurred.
Question Urgency: Be wary of requests for action that pressure you to decide quickly – scammers do this. Just go through and confirm the situation. Verify any shocking declarations through authority sources prior to making a move.
Update Yourself and Others: Keep yourself updated on a few scams that are common, which would prevent you from falling prey to fraud! Stay up to date on the latest scam methods by following cybersecurity authorities and organizations.
The case of the assistant professor from Eluru is an example to show how these new-age criminals can go any limit against innocent persons with a view to fool them easily through security-breaking techniques. People can educate themselves while confirming the identities of who they are speaking to and if unavailable seek advice so as not to become victims in similar cases. This is why you need to be vigilant, especially when something urgent comes up or supposedly just came out of nowhere.
FAQs
Q: What should I do if I receive a fraudulent call from an agency claiming to be official?
A: Contact the relevant agency to confirm the caller’s identity with their lawful call-back number. Avoid sharing personal information or making any payments based on the call.
Q: How Do I Avoid Online Scams?
A: Take precaution reading common patterns scammers use, verifying identity, and review talks with potential targets.
Q: I think I’m a victim, what do I have to do?
A: Notify your bank right away and follow its procedures for safeguarding your accounts. Report to the nearest proper local police authority where you witnessed or suspect any act of perpetrator and give them every available detail they can use for an investigation.
Q: Are cybercrime reports supported by government services?
A: Yes, the cybercrime helpline number is 1930, or you can report through the website www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Q: Where can I get information on well-known scams and how to protect against them?
A: Track alerts from security experts, get research on fraud protection, and take part in roundtables or webinars about cybersecurity.