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Have you been receiving calls from your bank about submitting KYC or any other details and threatening the account would be blocked/closed if the details are not provided? Then beware, that call is from a fraudster.

Yes,  banks never call you like this. Banks often publish warning in  newspapers and send citizens messages. Despite this, people are becoming victims of such frauds. This type of fraud is called Vishing in cyber language. Vishing means use of voice or calls to cheat people.

Cyber thugs sometimes make fake calls and ask KYC details of customers.  Sometimes they call with lure of providing online jobs. they cheat  people in various ways, making away with lakhs of rupees from customers accounts in a moment. There are hundreds of ways of committing  frauds and you are the target. According to Delhi Police, there has been a significant rise in complaints about online job scams and fraud calls in 2023 compared to last year. Until August this year, there was an increase of 84% in complaints filed on online job frauds, while complaints about fake calls increased by nearly 52%.

According to the police, cyber thugs have changed their ways of working over time. Earlier, they used to cheat people by offering jobs. they used to take money for registration and other reasons. But now they extort money from people by offering basic jobs like data entry and work from home.

Scammers give people simple tasks like social media profiles for installation. But there is always a risk of malware, data theft, etc. on these third-party apps. Along with this, blind advertisements keep running on such apps. Online survey sites are available but are fake. These fake sites lure people. Take their reviews  by promising luxurious gifts, vacation packages, or more money. People get cheated  and later on fraudsters disappear without fulfilling the promises.

When it comes to fraud calls, there are two types of offences —voice phishing scams that include both inbound and outbound scams. In outbound scams, cyber criminals target foreigners, while in inbound scams, they target people from different states in the country. In 2022, there were around 3,800  complaints made regarding such frauds. this year, the number has increased to approximately 5,750 In inbound fraud call scams, cyber thugs pose as bank representatives, make victims feel that they are calling to help them. However, they gain people’s trust and later extract personal and confidential details. Sometimes, individuals get deceived by fake courier calls. Other times they are duped under the pretext of installation of third-party apps for updating KYC details of e-wallet.

According to Cyber Security Expert, Kamakshi Sharma, Since the rise of the work-from-home culture after COVID, many companies operate on a hybrid model. This has created opportunities for cyber criminals to exploit people by offering work-from-home opportunities.  Fraud cases are increasing continuously. People believe that by liking videos or writing reviews on restaurant, they can easily earn money.

Fraud cases via phone calls have also increased. Scammer claims that he is from a bank, or e-wallet platforms, or on other pretexts, he would extract essential details from people over the phone. Such cases are on the rise. As technology usage increases, fraudsters find more ways of deceiving people, leading to a rise in cyber fraud cases.

Therefore, you should never share any personal details with anyone over the phone or net. Do not disclose your PIN, card details, and always stay alert. If you ever have the slightest doubt, do not follow the caller’s instructions. Despite all precautions, if you fall victim to such type of  fraud, immediately file a complaint at the cyber helpline number 1930. You can also visit the nearest cyber cell police station. Stay vigilant, and do not give fraudsters any opportunity to deceive you!