And for a Friday, after repeated instances of innocents being cheated by Cyber Fraudsters, some thoughts….. some musings…..
Every good technological advancement has its exploiters and creates an ecosystem of fraudsters and cheats. Internet based, paperless banking thru smart phones has huge conveniences for all of us. The same good technology is misused by fraudsters very creatively. Most common place is calls regarding courier companies or electricity department warning of supply lines being cut. But innovation was when a serving officer posted in Bengaluru and wanting a new connection in his home town in Mohali. Very cleverly, the fraudsters convinced him to keep his phone lines on and the fraudster got him to install a “Quick Support” App and cleaned off 3,26,750 from the officer’s Bank account. Most bizarre cyber fraud happened to Mr. K J Rao, a 59 year old MNC executive. English speaking fraudsters were able to “trance” him from 11am on 12th September to 2.30 pm the next day – more than 24 hours. The entire period the gangsters kept him on Skype, a so called Virtual “Digital Arrest” online court proceedings conducted with a fake judge and fake police officers and he was compelled to go to his bank and transfer 59 lakhs to multiple bank accounts. Rao got out of trance only after the entire fraud was over. Maybe a case of telepathic hypnotism plus psyche???? Unbelievable; needs experts to decipher. Maybe the cybercrime police will release details once investigations are complete.
These are early times. With AI simulated apps, voice and pictures can be cleverly morphed. Information from social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. etc. combined with the Aadhar, PAN details and mobile numbers are already compromised multiple times. We are all vulnerable, unless we and our dependents are extremely vigilant. My good friend Mr. Sivanandan, IPS (Retd) (former Mumbai CP), has advised to cut such unknown calls immediately and block the caller. They exploit your fear. Be calm and don’t be provoked. Keep cyber crime police number of your jurisdiction handy at all times. Only the Police station of your area can call you to the police station with a written letter served physically. Act fast and report immediately. Cyber police can stop the financial flow if informed promptly. Be vigilant and keep credit card, passwords and bank details confidential and away from all house help and strangers. Prevention is better than cure.
These are tough times. But they will get even tougher. So let us all be vigilant, the knowledgeable way, the networked way, the SEEGOS way.