Digital scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters exploiting fear and urgency to deceive individuals. These scams often involve impersonating officials from law enforcement or regulatory agencies to extort money. Hereâs a guide to common scams and how you can protect yourself:
Digital Arrest Scams
Fraudsters impersonate police, CBI, or other officials, accusing victims of crimes. Victims may receive threatening video or audio calls featuring fake interrogations, demanding payment to avoid a “digital arrest.”
Reality: Police do not conduct online interrogations or digital arrests.
What to Do: Hang up immediately and report the scam to the Cyber Crime helpline at 1930.
Parcel Stuck at Customs
Scammers claim a parcel in your name containing illegal items has been intercepted by Customs. They demand money to “resolve” the issue or release the parcel. Fraudsters may also send malicious links to access your device.
What to Do: Do not click on suspicious links. Report such calls to 1930.
TRAI Phone Scam
Fraudsters assert that your phone number is linked to illegal activities and threaten to suspend services unless money is paid.
Reality: TRAI does not suspend mobile services; only telecom providers can do so.
What to Do: Ignore such calls and verify with your telecom provider.
Easy Money Scams
These scams promise high payouts for simple tasks like liking social media posts. Victims are lured into transferring money or investing in fake schemes, such as cryptocurrencies, only to lose their funds.
What to Do: Be skeptical of offers that sound too good to be true. Avoid sharing personal or financial information.
Family Member Arrested
Fraudsters pose as police and claim that a close relative has been arrested on serious charges. They may use AI to mimic the relativeâs voice to demand money for dropping the charges.
What to Do: Verify the situation with your family members before taking any action.
Money Transferred by Mistake
Victims receive messages claiming money was credited to their account by mistake. Scammers then call, requesting the money to be “returned,” even though no transaction occurred.
What to Do: Always verify your account transactions with your bank directly.
Stay Alert, Stay Safe
If you receive suspicious calls or messages, immediately report them to the Cyber Crime helpline at 1930. Remember, legitimate authorities will never demand money over the phone or online. Protect yourself and your loved ones by staying informed and vigilant against these scams.