Online Fraud 101
Hope is a funny thing and as it turns out it can be pretty damaging as well. I prefer to think of myself as a well-informed and educated adult, but even my heart flutters when I see a mail that says I won something. Okay, it doesn’t anymore, but I can totally understand why someone would fall for that. It’s human to be excited about things like lottery and lucky draws. The saddest part is people who fall for these schemes are people who cannot afford to lose money.
A “trusted” newspaper reported that people who commit online fraud make close to 50 crores per annum, both states combined. It also reported that most of these criminals are from certain parts of Africa, but that doesn’t matter, does it? It does not matter who does it as much as how they do it.
This is how they do it:
Most corporate banks use third-party services to manage user databases, and the culprits know that. They bribe these third-party companies into giving them contact information of people who fit their profile somehow. The same goes with phone calls from banks.
First step for this disgusting fiasco begins with a simple mail/sms. You’ll receive a cheery and authentic-looking mail/sms saying that you’ve won huge amount of money.
Then for them to able to transfer that money, they will either ask you to send them a small amount for subscription and tax purposes or they will ask you for your bank details.
That’s all. Isn’t it painful how easy it is to ruin someone’s financial security and life?
How to avoid being taken for a bumpy ride:
1. ‘Nobody is ever going to give you money for free.’ Feed this into your brain until you pass out.
2. Banks do not call you for information regarding your pin or net-password. If they want to do so, they will do using more secure ways. Always check the url before entering your password.
3. All banks use SSL, which means that you’ll see a lock symbol at the beginning of the address bar.
4. Do not shop online from sites you’ve never heard of. In fact, COD is the best way to have an online transaction.
5. Even while shopping through trusted sites like Amazon or Flipkart, read the reviews given to the seller before buying anything from them.
6. When you receive a mail with words ‘lottery’, ‘free money’ or anything fishy, report spam. And if it’s a phone number report it to the police.
7. Finally, just be vigilant and pass the information to people who aren’t thoroughly educated about the Internet. Especially young people. Before introducing your parents to the Internet, educate them about its evils.
What one should do after you know you've been taken for a ride:
Call the bank as soon as possible and report them that the recent transaction is unauthorized. Then take that bank statement and report a case, within 24 hours, to the cyber crime office and follow up.
Even though these crimes are becoming more and more common, neither the banks nor the police are taking any prominent steps to control it. So as someone who worked hard for the money you made, be smart and do not fall for such traps.
First step for this disgusting fiasco begins with a simple mail/sms. You’ll receive a cheery and authentic-looking mail/sms saying that you’ve won huge amount of money.
Then for them to able to transfer that money, they will either ask you to send them a small amount
That’s all. Isn’t it painful how easy it is to ruin someone’s financial security and life?
How to avoid being taken for a bumpy ride:
1. ‘Nobody is ever going to give you money for free.’ Feed this into your brain until you pass out.
2. Banks do not call you for information regarding your pin or net-password. If they want to do so, they will do using more secure ways. Always check the url before entering your password.
3. All banks use SSL, which means that you’ll see a lock symbol at the beginning of the address bar.
4. Do not shop online from sites you’ve never heard of. In fact, COD is the best way to have an online transaction.
5. Even while shopping through trusted sites like Amazon or Flipkart, read the reviews given to the seller before buying anything from them.
6. When you receive a mail with words ‘lottery’, ‘free money’ or anything fishy, report spam. And if it’s a phone number report it to the police.
7. Finally, just be vigilant and pass the information to people who aren’t thoroughly educated about the Internet. Especially young people. Before introducing your parents to the Internet, educate them about its evils.
What one should do after you know you've been taken for a ride:
Call the bank as soon as possible and report them that the recent transaction is unauthorized. Then take that bank statement and report a case, within 24 hours, to the cyber crime office and follow up.
Even though these crimes are becoming more and more common, neither the banks nor the police are taking any prominent steps to control it. So as someone who worked hard for the money you made, be smart and do not fall for such traps.
