• Business News
  • Budget 2023
  • Insurance
  • Saving
  • Share Market 5Paisa
  • Loan
  • Mutual Funds
  • Investment
    • हिन्दी
    • తెలుగు
    • मराठी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
  • Close
  • Daily Show
    • 2+2=5
    • Take it Easy
    • Red Alert
    • Formula Guru
    • Money Gyan
    • Money Central
    • Money time
    • Jhatpat
  • Weekly Show
    • Money Comics
    • Economicom
    • Realty Check
    • Smile and pay
    • Money Tales
    • Spend Wise
    • Companynama
  • Budget 2023
  • Insurance
  • Savings
  • Share Market 5Paisa
  • Loan
  • Crypto coindcx
  • Investment
  • Mutual Funds
  • Real Estate
  • Tax
  • Exclusive
  • ASSOCIATE PARTNERS
  • jewellery partner
  • ASSOCIATE PARTNERS
  • jewellery partner
  • Home » News » Cyber security » COVID-19 crisis: Beware, cyber criminals on the prowl

COVID-19 crisis: Beware, cyber criminals on the prowl

Bharti Airtel's CEO Gopal Vittal, in a letter to subscribers, said: "There has been a massive increase in cyber frauds. And as usual, fraudsters are always finding new ways to trick you."

  • Teena Jain Kaushal
  • Publish Date - April 30, 2021 / 04:56 PM IST
COVID-19 crisis: Beware, cyber criminals on the prowl

The second wave of Covid-19 has left people gasping for air. There is a shortage of medicines and hospitals are running out of oxygen choking people to death. Amid this gloomy and depressing scenario, instances of cyber frauds are also on the rise as they look to capitalise on the helplessness of people who are desperately looking for critical lifesaving medicines for their loved ones.

The pandemic has irrevocably changed the world, and even left the traditional criminals jobless, fueling a shift towards cybercrime.

“Cybercrime now reveals a totally different face of hacker targets, methods of frauds. Basically, there has been a significant rise observed in the number of cyber incidents in the last year as the fraudsters explicitly exploit the Covid crisis,” said Sanjay Kaushik, MD, Netrika Consulting.

Bharti Airtel’s CEO Gopal Vittal, in a letter to subscribers, said: “There has been a massive increase in cyber frauds. And as usual, fraudsters are always finding new ways to trick you.”

New cyber frauds during Covid-19

With the rapid increase in cyber frauds, there is a need to exercise caution as now people across age groups including senior citizens have adopted digital payments. “So many incidents have been happening across the country so one should be careful while making payment to an unknown person,” said S K Sethi, author of the book “1 Cyber Attack Can Ruin You Forever”.

Various kinds of requests are being seen on WhatsApp groups as people are ready to pay a higher price for medicine or oxygen cylinder. Sethi gives an example of the recent incident he came to know about at Greater Kailash 2 in New Delhi on 28 April 2021. He received the message which read as follows: “Dear all please be careful while ordering medicines and paying in advance. We got cheated today, the person charged us the money through Airtel money and switched off the phones and blocked us. He spoke so genuine in conversation that we believed in him. He said only take an injection if you genuinely need it .. fraud alert !! We paid got cheated .. he may operate from other numbers from tomorrow!! Please be extra careful take all the details and pay only when you get stuff in your hand. I am feeling heartbroken since I arranged it for my sister in law and she badly needs the injection Remdisiver. He has blocked us and deleted his WhatsApp. Please be extra careful and vigilant. We did a mistake, sharing our bad experience for caution.”

Kaushik said, “The attack surface has completely changed with everything/everyone going online. There is a huge list of frauds and categories, and some of the newer ones that evolved more with the pandemic are:

• Covid-themed emails distributing malware and Trojans (especially banking trojans). The trojan is a kind of malware disguised as legitimate software.
• Increase in newly registered Covid themed domains and cloned websites.
• Attack disguised as Covid news or charity pleas for Donations, Investments etc.
• Cyber-attacks on healthcare (hospitals/pharma companies), for high-value compromises.
• Proliferation of fraudulent mobile applications, masquerading legitimate ones.
• Fake sales channels, selling counterfeits and collecting advance fees.
• Use of fake maps and benefit schemes to spread malware and scrape data.
• Increased credential thefts (accounts on Social Media & Collaboration tools) and sales on the dark web
• Ransomware designed to lockout critical systems in an attempt to extort payments
• Increased phishing email campaigns targeting specific industries, groups, countries etc

With the rise in cyber frauds, it is time to be vigilant and exercise caution.

Download Money9 App for the latest updates on Personal Finance.

follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Telegram
  • Youtube
  • Instagram

also read

  • Parameters to consider when comparing personal loans

    Parameters to consider when comparing personal loans

  • Know how demand for gold loans shines in trying times

    Know how demand for gold loans shines in trying times

Read more news on

  • cyber cheat
  • cyber fraud
  • cyber fraud amid covid.
  • Cyber security

Latest Video

SEE MORE
Is the government asking us to save or not to save, that's the question! | Union Budget 2023 |  Money9 English

Is the government asking us to save or not to save, that’s the question! | Union Budget 2023 | Money9 English

Updated: February 2, 2023
Dear Finance Minister, getting a job or an admission in a good college is difficult, please help

Dear Finance Minister, getting a job or an admission in a good college is difficult, please help

Updated: January 31, 2023
Dear Finance Minister, will savings schemes get a makeover this Budget 2023?

Dear Finance Minister, will savings schemes get a makeover this Budget 2023?

Updated: January 30, 2023
A pensioner airs his grievances in front of Finance Minister ahead of upcoming Union Budget 2023

A pensioner airs his grievances in front of Finance Minister ahead of upcoming Union Budget 2023

Updated: January 27, 2023
A contractual government employee writes open letter to Finance Minister giving suggestions on Budget 2023

A contractual government employee writes open letter to Finance Minister giving suggestions on Budget 2023

Updated: January 25, 2023
A disappointed homebuyer writes open letter to Finance Minister failure giving suggestions for Budget 2023

A disappointed homebuyer writes open letter to Finance Minister failure giving suggestions for Budget 2023

Updated: January 25, 2023
A gig worker writes open letter to Finance Minister ahead of Union Budget 2023

A gig worker writes open letter to Finance Minister ahead of Union Budget 2023

Updated: January 24, 2023
Small exporter writes open letter to Finance Minister giving suggestions on upcoming Union Budget 2023

Small exporter writes open letter to Finance Minister giving suggestions on upcoming Union Budget 2023

Updated: January 23, 2023
Open in App

Related

  • How to protect your policy from fraudsters

    How to protect your policy from fraudsters

  • Digital banking: Nine tips for senior citizens to stay safe and secure

    Digital banking: Nine tips for senior citizens to stay safe and secure

  • Chinks in Microsoft’s cloud security exposed

    Chinks in Microsoft’s cloud security exposed

  • Cyber insurance cover: Key things to keep in mind

    Cyber insurance cover: Key things to keep in mind

  • 9-point guide to a strong internet banking password

    9-point guide to a strong internet banking password

  • 73% of organisations in India are likely to experience a data breach: Report

    73% of organisations in India are likely to experience a data breach: Report

More

  • Watch the ultimate showdown of Money9 English Stocks VS FDs
    Savings

    Watch the ultimate showdown of Money9 English Stocks VS FDs

  • E-pharmacy market in the country is expected to increase at 40-45 % CAGR
    Spending

    Medicines Now Knocking At Your Door

  • How much rent has increased of residential properties after Covid-19 pandemic?
    Property

    'New' Inflation To Burn A Hole In Pocket

  • Can India’s BharOS replace Android, iOS?
    Corporate

    Can India’s BharOS replace Android, iOS?

  • Will government reduce GST on life insurance?
    Tax

    Will government reduce GST on life insurance?

  • TV9 Sites

  • TV9 Hindi
  • TV9Telugu.com
  • TV9 Marathi
  • TV9 Gujarati
  • TV9 Kannada
  • TV9 Bangla
  • News9 Live
  • Know this india
  • Money9 Sites

  • Money9 Hindi
  • Money9 English
  • Money9 Marathi
  • Money9 Telugu
  • Money9 Gujarati
  • Money9 Kannada
  • Money9 Bangla
  • Topics

  • Insurance
  • Savings
  • Loan
  • Stocks
  • Mutual Funds
  • Real Estate
  • Tax
  • Crypto
  • Exclusive
  • Daily Shows

  • 2+2=5
  • Take it Easy
  • Red Alert
  • Formula Guru
  • Money Gyan
  • Money Central
  • Jhatpat
  • Money time
  • Weekly Shows

  • Money Comics
  • Economicom
  • Realty Check
  • Smile and pay
  • Money Tales
  • Companynama
  • Spend Wise
  • Follow us

  • FaceBook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Download App

  • Andorid
  • ios
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Complaint Redressal
  • Copyright © 2022 Money9. All rights reserved.