In recent years, cyber frauds have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting individuals across the country. Cybercriminals use various tactics to defraud people, leading to huge financial losses. From fake loans to phishing schemes, these fraudulent activities are rampant in today’s digital world. Here’s a types of most common cyber fraud and how you can protect yourself.
Common Types Of Cyber Frauds:
Digital Arrest Scam: Cybercriminals impersonate law enforcement authorities and threaten individuals with digital arrest for alleged crimes. They demand large sums of money to avoid arrest or to settle fictitious charges.
Loan Scam: Fraudsters offer fake loans to individuals in need of urgent financial help. They ask for a processing fee upfront, but after receiving the money, they disappear, leaving the victim empty-handed.
Lucky Draw Scam: Victims receive messages claiming they’ve won a lottery or prize. To claim the winnings, they are asked to pay taxes or fees in advance, only for the fraudsters to vanish after receiving the payment.
Investment Scam: Fraudsters lure victims with promises of high returns on investments in fake schemes like Ponzi schemes. Once the victim invests money, the scammers shut down the operation and disappear.
Phishing Scam: Cybercriminals impersonate legitimate companies or government departments and ask for personal details under the pretext of KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. Clicking on the provided links results in account theft or loss of sensitive data.
Job Scam: Fraudsters advertise fake job opportunities, asking job seekers to pay for training kits or application fees. After payment, the scammers vanish, and no job is provided.
Matrimonial Site Scam: Fraudsters create fake profiles on matrimonial websites, establish a relationship with victims, and then fabricate emergency situations to ask for money, often citing family medical expenses or other fabricated crises.
Parcel Scam: Victims are contacted by scammers who claim a parcel containing illegal substances has been sent to their address. The scammers then demand money to resolve the issue and avoid legal consequences.
Cash on Delivery Scam: Fraudsters create fake online shopping websites that look legitimate. After the victim places an order, they receive counterfeit or substandard products, or sometimes nothing at all.
KYC Scam: Fraudsters impersonate government officials or bank representatives and ask for sensitive documents or payment under the pretext of completing KYC formalities. Once the victim provides the information, their account is compromised.
How To Protect Yourself:
- Never click on suspicious links from unknown numbers or sources.
- Avoid sharing personal details, such as passwords, OTPs, or sensitive information, with anyone.
- Always use trusted and secure platforms for making payments or conducting transactions.
- If you become a victim of cyber fraud, immediately report it through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
