Beware! WhatsApp fraudsters on prowl, caution Punjab Police
Chandigarh, May 25: The Cyber Crime Cell of the Punjab Police on Wednesday issued an advisory for the people of the state suggesting to be vigilant about messages demanding financial/administrative favours using fake WhatsApp IDs impersonating as an important officers/dignitaries.
The Cyber Crime Cell of the Punjab Police also asked them to immediately report on toll free number ‘1930’ if such case come into their notice. Inspector General of Police (IGP), State Cyber Crime, RK Jaiswal said two such cases, wherein fraudsters impersonating VVIPs tried to defraud innocent people, had come to the fore in less than a month.
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Acting promptly, the Punjab State Cyber Crime has registered two FIRs, including on April 26, 2022, under Sections 420 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act and another on May 19, 2022 under section 66C of the IT Act at PS State Cyber Crime, SAS Nagar, he said, adding that all efforts were being made by the State Cyber Crime to nab the culprits.
IGP RK Jaiswal advised people to restrain from reacting on the basis of the display picture/name on WhatsApp/Social Media profiles, using suspicious websites (torrent, short-end URLs etc.) that can host malicious scripts and avoid giving confidential information such as OTP, bank accounts, credit/debit cards or social security number to prevent themselves to get tricked by spoofed/impersonated social media accounts.
Giving details about the modus operandi of the accused in two cases registered, DIG, State Cyber Crime, Nilambari Jagdale said the primary motive of culprits was to defraud the recipients and this kind of fraud was prevalent all across India. These unscrupulous elements took unauthorised access to the cellphones of unsuspecting and gullible individuals by using various hi-tech means.
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"Thereafter, the accused impersonate themselves as senior officers/dignitaries and demand financial favours in the shape of Amazon gift vouchers or on pretext of medical emergency or by creating any sort of emergent situation,"said the DIG, adding that the further investigation was technical in nature and cyber crime teams had been collating many facts and joining the necessary dots to reach the perpetrators involved in the crime.
She added that they are close to nabbing the accused involved in defrauding innocent people.
-PTC News
