Protect Your Finances: Avoid Online Payment Scams & Phishing

Internet is the urgent need of the hour in the hi-tech era. While this medium has many advantages, there are also some disadvantages. In present time human beings use internet for every small talk. It is said that the greater the convenience, the greater the possibility of loss. In today’s internet age, people are becoming a victim of cyber fraud all the time. One falls victim to a mobile app scam, one falls prey to a phishing website. What is this phishing attack? How do people suffer from it? How to save? Do’s and Don’ts to Avoid Phishing Attacks?

What is a Phishing Attack?

Phishing is when someone tricks you by stealing information from a real website and making a fake one that looks just like it. They change the web address and send you a link that seems real. These bad guys often use servers in China to make it seem even more convincing and share it on social media. So, be careful with unfamiliar links and websites, and always double-check to make sure you’re on the real website to avoid falling for their tricks.

If any link comes, it should not be clicked without verification

Cyber expert Mayur Bhusawalkar shared more about phishing attacks, warning that there’s a current scam where scammers claim to offer free items on behalf of private companies. He advises not to click on any links without verifying them, as these links can steal your mobile data. In case you accidentally click on such a link, it’s recommended to perform a factory reset on your mobile. These scams involve phishing, spyware, and attacks resembling those seen in Marvel movies, all happening under the guise of private companies. Bhusawalkar emphasizes that we should avoid sharing such links with others unless we’ve verified them to stay safe from these threats.

How to Identify a Phishing Website?

• The images on the original website lack clarity.
• The website hasn’t been kept up to date.
• Numerous spelling errors are present in the text.
• The website comprises only a homepage with no additional links.
• If other links aren’t functioning, they display a maintenance message.
• The website is not accessible on the internet or through a browser.
• Phishing websites can only be accessed through specific links.

Every Day 1 Lakh Websites Are Added in the World

Over the past two years, phishing websites have surged by a staggering 255 percent, and this upward trend continues in 2023. Currently, more than 10,000 fraudulent phishing websites are being added daily. Despite the removal of millions of phishing domains, this malicious activity persists as perpetrators keep creating new websites with different domain names. To counter this threat, organizations should establish their own teams of cybersecurity experts. Additionally, website owners must exercise caution and vigilance to detect and combat duplicate websites that aim to deceive users.

What Precautions Should Be Taken to Transact With a Smartphone?

• Utilize a trusted and authorized application or website.
• Avoid making payments through any provided links.
• Regularly update the application.
• Make payments only after thorough verification.
• Ensure you have antivirus software installed on your mobile device.

In a recent conversation with Divya Bhaskar, an anonymous young man from Padra, Vadodara, shared his experience. He had booked a courier through a private website, and on the day of its scheduled arrival, he received a call claiming there was an issue with the courier’s address. To rectify it, he was asked to send Rs 5. Believing this to be a legitimate request, he made the transaction of Rs 5 to ensure the delivery of a courier worth Rs 550. However, this turned out to be a phishing scam. Two hours later, he received the courier as expected, but two days later, he was notified that over Rs 17,000 had been debited from his bank account. In a panic, he promptly blocked his bank account and reported the incident to the cyber helpline at 1930 to seek assistance.

Bank-manager Lost Rs 30.70 Lakhs for Daughter’s Admission

Some months ago, a bank manager in Vadodara city also experienced cyber fraud. He lost a substantial sum of Rs 30.70 lakh, which he had intended to use for his daughter’s MBBS admission. The culprits behind this cybercrime managed to ensnare the bank manager by tricking him through a phishing website, making him an unfortunate victim of their scheme.

Loan Taken From a Mobile Application Called “Top Loan”

In Ambawadi, Ahmedabad, an individual initially borrowed 3,000 rupees from a mobile app called “Top Loan.” To repay this loan, they resorted to taking out loans from various other mobile apps. Subsequently, the owners of the “Top Loan” app resorted to inappropriate measures, pressuring the person to repay the loan and resorting to swearing. Furthermore, the person’s selfie photo, submitted during the verification process, was misused. Their face was cropped from the original photo and inserted into a new one, creating unflattering morphed images. These morphed images were then circulated via WhatsApp to the person’s friends and family, leading to social defamation.

Jignesh Kantibhai Chavda, residing on Raia Road in Rajkot city, was planning a trip to Ujjain. To find a hotel, he searched for hotel numbers on Google and contacted one of them to make a booking. To secure the reservation, he transferred a total of Rs. 31,484 using the provided payment code. However, things took a wrong turn when the hotel demanded more money from him. Faced with this situation, Chavda filed a complaint regarding the cyber fraud he experienced.

After Downloading the Application From the Applicant for Advance Payment

Abdulbhai Kadarbhai Kataria, a resident of Udyognagar Colony in Rajkot city, connected with an unfamiliar individual who claimed to have parts for a nail-making machine for sale. The person asked Abdulbhai to make an upfront payment and guided him to download a specific mobile application. Abdulbhai linked this app to his Axis Bank account and followed the instructions to complete the payment. However, he later discovered that a total of Rs. 79,959 had been fraudulently taken from his account. In response to this, Abdulbhai contacted the helpline at 1930 and filed an online complaint to address the issue.