an alert SMS or email comes out of the blue from an unknown number or address, notifying the target that they have missed a delivery and that it will need to be re-arranged with the courier. These typically reference the largest of the local delivery and courier companies or even the central mailing services within the attack region. When the victim follows the link to re-arrange their fake delivery, they are asked for a host of personal information including credit card details to cover a fee for redelivery. These scams are very successful
Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN by phone or offer to pick up your card by courier. Hang up if you get a call like this.
If you need to call your bank back to check, wait five minutes; fraudsters may stay on the line after you hang up.
Alternatively, use a different line altogether to call your bank.
If you believe you've fallen for a scam, contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your debit or credit card.
Alarming surge in messages from international numbers offering enticing part-time job opportunities has become a cause for concern. These messages claim to be from marketing companies looking to boost their clients' ratings on platforms like Google Maps and other marketplaces. The seemingly straightforward offer of earning 50 rupees per review may sound appealing, but behind the facade lies a well-orchestrated scam that preys on unsuspecting individuals.
To evade tracking, the victim is urged to join a Telegram group. This is a red flag, as scammers often prefer communication channels that are harder to trace.
The victim is then asked to provide their bank details for the purported money deposits. To build trust, a small amount, such as 150 rupees, may be deposited initially.
Research thoroughly: Before applying, research the company and the specific job title. Look for red flags mentioned above.
Verify the company: Check the company's website, social media presence, and online reviews from employees or customers.
Beware of pressure: Legitimate employers won't pressure you to make a quick decision or provide immediate personal information.
Never pay upfront: If a company asks for any kind of payment before hiring you, it's a scam.
Speak with the employer: Try to schedule a call or video chat with the employer to confirm their legitimacy.
Use trusted job boards: Look for remote work opportunities on reputable job boards with established anti-fraud measures.
Investment fraud happens when people try to trick you into investing money. They might want you to invest money in stocks, bonds, notes, commodities, currency, or even real estate. A scammer may lie to you or give you fake information about a real investment. Or they may make up a fake investment opportunity.
Investment fraudsters might say they are telemarketers or financial advisors. They seem smart, friendly, and charming. They may tell you an investment opportunity is urgent. They try to earn your trust so you will give them money as quickly as possible and without asking many questions.
Always validate an investment by calling the institution you are investing with on an independent number, not one found in the body of an email. You can find a company's number on the FCA register. Online research may not be enough to uncover sophisticated scams.
Always pay full attention to fraud warnings when making a payment: they are there for your safety
QR Code Scam Alert
The scam starts with someone putting an item on an online sale website. That's when the fraudsters pose as buyers and share the QR code to pay an advance or token amount. They then create a QR code and share it with the intended victim through WhatsApp or email. They will ask the victim to scan the QR code sent by them so that they will receive the money directly into their bank accounts. Believing them, the victims scan QR codes sent by the fraudsters presuming that they will receive the money in their account but they end up losing money.
To identify scams, firstly users should know that QR code is only scanned to send money and not to receive money.
Another important practice is to inspect the URL or website linked to the QR code. Ensure that it begins with "https://" to indicate a secure connection, and be wary of misspellings or suspicious variations in the domain name.
Avoid sharing UPI IDs and bank details with strangers, verify online transactions, and exercise caution with suspicious QR codes
Digital bank fraud occurs when criminals gain unauthorized access to personal or financial information through various means. One common method is through phishing emails, where fraudsters pose as legitimate institutions and request sensitive information, such as login credentials, from unsuspecting victims.
Use strong, unique passwords and update them regularly.
Activate two-factor authentication for added security.
happens when a thief steals a customer's credit card details during a legitimate transaction at a PoS device and uses that information to design a counterfeit card. Using this card, the thief can make online purchases where a physical card is unnecessary. Never let your card out of sight while handing it over to the operator at restaurants or at fuel stations. EVM chip cards help alleviate the skimming problem, but customers should immediately alert the staff if they see anything unusual in the card slot ll credit card providers have a facility to set payment limits for ATM withdrawals, PoS transactions, online/e-commerce payments, and contactless payments. By default, the limit is set to the maximum amount available on the card. It is best to change these settings to the minimum amount you need in day-to-day transactions. You can change the limit from the mobile application anytime.