Recently, a 25-year-old Pune guy was conned out of Rs. 1.28 lakhs after falling for an online fraud while purchasing a used car.
In May of this year, he contacted the online con artists via a secondhand marketplace and agreed to pay for the automobile in monthly installments. The dealers stopped returning his calls three months later, as soon as the sum exceeded Rs1,28 Lakh.
In another incident, a woman in Pune conned a young person under the guise of an insurance policy. To steal 1.31 lakhs from the victim, the woman pretended to be an employee of an insurance business.
Millions of individuals fall prey to fraudulent internet schemes, which are more and more popular, like the two Pune residents.
Even though everyone now uses the internet daily, a massive online literacy gap must be overcome. In a recent survey, phishing accounted for 29% of all online fraud in the first quarter of 2021, and India came in second on the list.
Usernames, passwords, bank information, Aadhar numbers, and other sensitive information are frequently stolen through phishing scams.
Scammers will request personal information, such as name, birthdates, address, and so on, as part of the account verification procedure on social media, email, and WhatsApp.
Examining the URL or website address is one way to spot this kind of con. Typically, any website's prefix is "HTTPS://." The first caution is given if the last "s" is absent. Other warning indicators are usernames that repeatedly ask for updates, informal greetings like "Hi Dear," and a delay in invoicing.
A good example of phishing is the Nigerian scam, in which the con artist pretends to be rich and offers to share some of it with you.
The following list of five online frauds should be read by everybody who uses the internet.
1. Coupon Fraud
Online retail stores allow customers a coupon in exchange for a purchase. Here is where con artists enter the picture. By using the logos of well-known companies as the basis for their scam coupons, they will distribute them online. To receive the discount, the con artist will instruct you to post about the offer on your social media accounts. Next, to attract more friends, liking and sharing the link on your account could be essential. Finally, they will request your personal information for a survey. There is a possibility that they will hack your account after you fill out the form and email them.
To avoid this, verify the validity of the coupon by visiting the Facebook page, and do not redeem it if it does not contain a blue tick.
2. Lottery fraud
The lottery has gone digital to defraud millions of web users. It is perhaps one of the oldest hoaxes. These form competitions, sweepstakes frauds, and number-based lottery games. They frequently send congratulations messages via emails, pop-up banners, and advertisements.
It is unquestionably a fraud if it requests your credit card information, a payment, or a registration fee. It will forge a cheque in your name, send it to you, and then demand payment. The cheque will bounce when you deposit it at the bank because the con artist will have taken the money out of his account. In such a transaction, you forfeit your online payment to receive the lottery winnings.
Online searches can be used to cross-reference the lottery's name and credentials. The most straightforward approach to avoid this kind of scam is to not transfer money or give bank information, no matter how alluring the advertisement may be.
3. False Job Opportunities
In India, almost 12 million individuals apply for jobs annually. Due to the high unemployment rate, con artists prey on recent graduates who are desperate for employment. When you receive an employment offer letter, look for any and all warning signs. It is probably a fraud if the pay scale and increment are significantly more significant than the regular income, the benefits are unbelievable, or upfront payment is necessary.
Visit the company website and uses their official email address to write them an email or phone their office to see if the position being offered is genuine.
Never provide your bank information or use an online money transfer service.
4. Fraudulent Facebook requests
The most recent method of stealing personal information is account cloning. The con artists will use your publicly accessible photos to create a fake Facebook account. Then, to become friends with your buddy, they will try to send them requests.
They will start requesting sensitive information and asking personal questions when they do. A statement about hacking that went viral in September of last year turned out to be a hoax.
The following false message was sent to a large number of Facebook users:
"Hi…
In fact, you sent me another friend request yesterday.
You might want to verify your account because I disregarded it. Hold the message in place with your finger until the forward button appears. Then hit forward and include everyone else in your forwarding. I have to handle each person separately. Best of luck! The best strategy to prevent cloning is to make all of your Facebook photos private and secure them. Romance, debt, and lottery scams are among other varieties. Here are some tips for protecting your account.
5. Fraudulent online shopping
Numerous e-commerce businesses are currently running significant sales in honour of the holidays. Before accessing any e-commerce website, check the URL. Multiple not genuine websites can trick you.
The WhatsApp messages that are going around are essentially phishing scams. The links in these emails typically offer discounts on expensive goods. Avoid forwarding WhatsApp messages to others and resist the need to believe everything you get.
According to a survey by the Internet and Mobile Association of India, India has the second-highest internet users after China, with 451 million active users. Because there are so many users online, online scams are also prevalent. You may take many preventive measures to avoid taking part in digital theft, from being vigilant to installing security apps, tightening privacy settings, and notifying the cybercrime section.