Cybercrime is one of the biggest security threats the world is facing right now. With just a click on a random link or receiving a call from an unknown number, these cybercriminals can gather all of one’s personal data and siphon off entire life savings in a jiffy.
Not just the common public but now, senior-level government officials have also come on the radar of such fraudsters who have found a new way of extracting money from unsuspecting people by impersonating A-grade officers and duping people.
Indian Masterminds exclusively spoke with senior IAS officer Shahid Choudhary, who recently faced such a situation, and IPS officer Vijay Kumar, who has cracked several cybercrime cases in the state, diligently.
FRAUDSTERS AT WORK
Currently posted as the Tribal Affairs Department Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Mission Youth Jammu and Kashmir, IAS officer Shahid Choudhary was shocked when some people texted him regarding his request for money and gift cards. After investigating further, he surmised that a fraudster was using mobile number 8105819214 and his picture to send messages to his colleagues and friends seeking financial help.
“All the employees of departments received messages from the fraudster asking for a purchase of gift coupons and transfer of money. The display picture and name appeared as mine. While most of the officials understood it to be true, some colleagues flagged it to me seeking verification. That is how I came to know about it,” Mr. Choudhary told Indian Masterminds.
The officer immediately contacted Cyber Police, Srinagar. SP, Mr. Iftikhar Talib was very prompt and located the fraudster in absolutely no time. He further briefed the officer about the modus operandi of these cybercriminals.
“I was surprised at the level of data breach as the fraudster contacted uniformly all the officials of the departments, I am holding charge of. Even the cell numbers which are not linked to any official database were contacted by the cyber criminals which is worrying. Data security, in this backdrop, is a very strong concern,” he shared.
POLICE IN ACTION
The J&K police set into action immediately by registering an FIR in the regard and setting a detailed investigation into motion. During preliminary investigations, it was revealed that the fraudsters, through deceitful means, were obtaining WhatsApp OTPs for registration of WhatsApp accounts from gullible people not knowing much about the internet and using the same accounts for the commission of the offense.
“In some cases, virtual numbers have also been found to be used by the scammers for the commission of the offense. The investigation conducted so far has got some leads that these WhatsApp accounts are most likely operated from Nigeria in league with some Indian-based online scammers. The investigation is at its optimum to track down the involved cybercriminals in this scam,” IPS officer Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir, told Indian Masterminds.
AN EFFORT TO PREVENT CYBERCRIMES
This Police is using every mode of communication like social media, print media as well as media fraternity for making cyber awareness among the general masses about trending cyber scams and mitigation of the same. A mass cyber awareness campaign is being organized by Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone, Srinagar to prevent such cyber scams.
So far, six cases have been reported in the station wherein identity has been impersonated and messages regarding the need for financial favors were forwarded by cyber scammers.
Talking about the necessary precautions that should be adopted by the public to avoid such scammers, Mr. Kumar said, “Necessary precautions about using of Two-factor Authentication and protecting the profile picture should be adopted and on the occasion of such scams, the victim should forward a message to his contact list not to pay any heed to it and should approach Cyber Police Station for redressal of their grievances.”
The officer further added that the general public should be made aware of trends adopted by cyber scammers and while facing such a scenario, they should first ascertain the details of the WhatsApp handler.
According to him, if it has surfaced that the WhatsApp handler is using the display picture of some person having an unknown number, the same should be reported to WhatsApp authorities accordingly and their contact list should be intimated about the same so that the WhatsApp account of the scammer would be banned by concerned authorities on priority with maximum reporting as fake WhatsApp account.
