A Few Digits, Total Control: Stay Safe From Call Forwarding Scams
It was an ordinary afternoon when Rakesh’s phone rang. The caller claimed to be from a courier company, apologising for a missed delivery and asking him to dial a short code to “confirm” his number. It sounded routine. Rakesh followed the instruction, the call disconnected. Nothing seemed amiss. Moments later, his phone went eerily silent. […]
GhostPairing Scam: How Scammers Hijack Messaging Accounts Remotely
Introduction The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, recently released an advisory warning of the ‘GhostPairing Scam’, which targets users on messaging apps. This fraud involves scamsters misusing the device-linking feature of messaging apps to take over the accounts of users. They gain access […]
Would you trust this viral video ? How deepfakes fuel digital deception
Not too long ago, a viral video of popular actress Rashmika Mandanna was making the rounds online. Someone had used AI to swap Rashmika’s face onto another woman, creating an eerie deepfake. Deepfakes aren’t just fringe tech experiments anymore. With the rise of generative AI tools in the market, your privacy can be invaded by […]
Cybercrimes Up 217% in the Past Five Years: Insights from the NCRB Report
Introduction More than 86,000 cyber crimes were reported in just one year, according to the latest Crime in India Report released by the National Crime Records Bureau. Between 2018 and 2023, cyber crimes in India increased by a staggering 217%, highlighting the menace of cyber crimes in the post-Covid era. According to the NCRB Report […]
Glittering Deals, Hidden Threats: Stay Cyber-Safe This Festive Season
The festive season is upon us. This time is associated with lights, moments with our loved ones, and also, the festive frenzy shopping. However, this time also sees a surge in cyber frauds and scams which can dampen the festive spirit, apart from burning a hole in your pockets. It is thus crucial to recognise […]
When “They’ll Arrest You in Minutes” Becomes a Nightmare
Picture this: you’ve just wrapped up a long day when your phone lights up with a video call. A man in uniform appears, the background looks like a police station, and his tone is urgent. He says that a parcel in your name has been seized for containing illegal items. Within seconds, he flashes an […]
APK File Scams: How Fake Apps Hijack Your Phone and Finances
One evening, a WhatsApp message lands on your phone. It looks urgent like a traffic challan notice, a bank KYC update, or even a cheerful wedding invitation card. The file attached carries the logo of a trusted institution or the design of a digital invite. You tap once, grant a few permissions, and move on. […]
Match or Mismatch: How Scammers Trick You on Dating Apps
One minute you are laughing over snacks and drinks with your dating app match, and the next you are staring at a bill so outrageous it feels like you accidentally ordered the whole menu. Meanwhile, your ‘date’ has disappeared and you are surrounded by bouncers who will not let you leave till you clear the […]
Think Before You Click – How Platforms Are Fighting Scams and Spam
Introduction Unwanted promotions, deceptive messages, and online scams have become pervasive across the digital ecosystem, pushing platforms to adopt stronger safeguards to protect users. Platforms operate under a patchwork of content, privacy, and consumer protection rules but face rising expectations to proactively detect, moderate, and reduce the spread of spam, scams, and other harmful content. […]
Are You Shopping Safe? Outsmart E-Commerce Scams with These Smart Habits
Online shoppers are often exposed to fraudulent sellers, counterfeit products and transaction frauds while they navigate India’s booming e-commerce markets. However, e-commerce platforms are actively countering these challenges with their online safety measures. In this blog, we explore how you can keep yourself safe on online shopping platforms. 1. Only visit the real website of […]