In today’s rapidly evolving digital age, technology has revolu onized every aspect of our lives, making the world more interconnected and daily tasks remarkably convenient. From instant communica on to seamless financial transac ons, technological advancements have brought unparalleled benefits. However, alongside these advantages lies a darker reality-the alarming rise in cybercrime. As technology integrates deeper into our lives, fraudsters are exploi ng its vulnerabili es to deceive and defraud unsuspec ng individuals. Unfortunately, despite the growing threats, awareness and educa on about these crimes remain inadequate, leaving many at risk of falling vicm to their tac cs.
The increasing prevalence of cybercrime has alarmed individuals and authori es, with fraudsters employing sophis cated tac cs to exploit people’s fears and vulnerabili es. Advocate Vivek Sharma has come forward to provide essen al advice for Citizens to safeguard themselves from falling prey to such decep ons. Scammers o en pose as officials from organiza ons like TRAI, FedEx, Police or even the bureaucrats to deceive vicms.
These calls are usually regarding warning about phone disconnec on, suspicious packages, or irregulari es in Aadhaar informa on are designed to create panic and coerce immediate ac on. These claims are en rely baseless and are meant to trick individuals into revealing sensi ve informa on or transferring money. Nowadays, most common cunning ploy involves fraudsters alleging that the vicm is under `digital arrest` or linked to a package containing illegal substances like drugs.
These calls are not just fraudulent but aim to exploit fear and compel vicms to comply without ques on. Citizens are advised to remain calm and avoid responding to such threats.
Fraudsters have increasingly turned to decep ve schemes targe ng individuals` finances and privacy. One common tac c involves luring vicms with promises of lucra ve returns through investments in the stock market, trading, or shares. These scammers fabricate convincing narra ves to gain trust, only to vanish with the vicms` hard-earned money.
Equally alarming is the rise in extor on a empts where fraudsters accuse individuals of browsing explicit websites. Leveraging fear and embarrassment, they demand he y penal es under the guise of avoiding legal repercussions. Both schemes highlight the need for vigilance and awareness to avoid falling prey to these manipula ve tac cs.
Fraudsters increasingly leverage technology, contac ng vicms through WhatsApp or SMS with malicious links. Clicking on these links or responding to such messages can result in significant financial losses or data breaches. Citizens must also be wary of phishing a empts that request OTPs, even under seemingly legi mate pretexts. In the face of these growing threats, Advocate Vivek Sharma stresses the importance of vigilance and cri cal thinking. He advises Citizens never to share sensi ve details like debit or credit card informa on, OTPs, or CVV numbers over the phone. Instead, any official communica on should be verified directly with the concerned authori es, preferably through offline channels or official websites. Sharma highlights that legi mate no ces from police sta ons, courts, or government agencies are served through proper channels, such as registered post or official summons.
Any unsolicited calls claiming to represent these bodies are almost certainly scams. He also enlightens the Citizens about the ini a ves taken by the Government by establishing separate bodies to specially deal with the said cyber crimes in order to give speedy redressals to the vicms. One of the ini a ves taken by the Government is by crea ng a tollfree helpline number wherein the repor ng of such incidents can be done immediately to the respec ve authori es by calling 1930 or the Citizens can also report about such incidents using the official portal cybercrime.gov.in. A er filing the said online complaints the Citizens are further advised to report about the same to a nearby local Police Sta on. He advises individuals to block unknown or suspicious numbers marked as spam or fraud and to avoid engaging with callers who pressurize them with threats or urgency. If a caller men ons an emergency involving a loved one, Citizens should independently verify the informa on by contac ng the individual or relevant authori es. Advocate Sharma warns that scammers exploit human emo ons like fear and greed to their advantage. He urges everyone to be cau ous of offers promising easy loans, lucra ve investments or once-in-a lifeme deals, as these are o en traps. By prac cing pa ence and skep cism, Citizens can be er protect themselves from the devasta ng consequences of cyber fraud. Adv. Vivek Sharma concludes with a strong reminder: “No legi mate en ty will pressure you into making immediate decisions over the phone. Pause, think, and verify. Awareness is your greatest tool against these predators.”
