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1 June 2024 Vol 4 No 47
Protect yourself against Cyber Frauds
(Click to Read) Courier or Parcel Scam
Electricity Bill Payment scam
KYC Update frauds
Expert Speak - Video on “Food
Categorization as per FSSAI”
India is witnessing a rise in cyber scam cases, with people falling prey to the schemes of online fraudsters
and losing lakhs of money. What is even more distressing is that scammers are constantly inventing new
ways to deceive people. Therefore, even if someone is aware of a particular scam, the emergence of new
scams often confuses people, causing them to fall victim to these cyber frauds.
Currently three scams - Courier or Parcel scam, Electricity Bill Payment scam, and KYC Update fraud,
are on the rise with a lot of people falling victim to these. In this issue, we bring you details on how these
are carried out and what you can do to safeguard yourself.
Courier or Parcel Scam
The fraud begins with a phone call from someone claiming to be from FedEx customer service. The caller
informs the victim that a package linked to their Aadhaar number has been intercepted because it allegedly
contains illegal items. Despite the victim not knowing about any such package, the scammer insists it was
dispatched from Mumbai and is now stuck in customs due to the discovery of narcotics among the items.
Once the victim believes their claims, the scammers proceed to ask the victim to join a Skype call, where
they impersonate officers from the narcotics department. During the call, they manipulate and stress the
victim further. They ask the victim to give their Aadhaar and other identification details, as well as their bank
account information.
Additionally, under the pretext of verification, the scammers further ask the victim to transfer money,
assuring them that it is refundable. However, once the victim sends the money, the scammers cut off all
contact, leaving the victims to lose their money without any recourse.
How to protect yourself:
• Be aware of unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from courier services or law
enforcement agencies.
• Verify the information with official sources. If you receive any suspicious communication, independently
verify the information by contacting the courier company directly.
• Do not share personal details, such as your Aadhaar number, bank account information, or any other
sensitive data, especially over the phone or through
unfamiliar websites or links.
• Do not rush into action. Scammers often create a sense
of urgency and panic to pressure victims into making Calling from
hasty decisions. Take your time, gather information, courier your parcel is stuck
and consult with trusted individuals before making any company at customs office for
transactions or sharing personal information. illegal items
• If you receive a call or message regarding a courier
parcel or an unexpected package, especially if you have
RT
not sent any or are not expecting one, approach it with
LE
scepticism. Verify the legitimacy of the information
A
M
through reliable channels before taking any action.
A
SC
• If you suspect a scam, report it immediately by
calling 112 or 1930, or visit the nearest Cyber
Crime Police Station.
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1 June 2024
Electricity Bill Payment scam
“Dear Customer, Your Electricity power
will be disconnected tonight at 9.30 pm
from the electricity office because
your previous month's bill was not
updated. Please immediately contact
our electricity officer 82603XXX42.
Thank you.”
you.”
Have you received any such SMS
or message on WhatsApp? If yes,
then beware and DO NOT call the
number or click on any link attached
to these messages.
In these types of online scams,
fraudsters send fake text messages
that appear to originate from official
electricity departments. These messages
allege that the recipient has unpaid bills
and threaten immediate disconnection
of power. This creates a sense of panic
and urgency, coercing unsuspecting
individuals into making hasty payments.
The messages are often cleverly crafted to appear legitimate, adding to the deceptive nature of the scam.
Scammers may utilize official logos and language, and they may even include the recipient's name and
account number. This can make it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent messages.
Here are some steps to safeguard yourself against such scams and determine whether the message is
fake or not:
• Verify the source of the message - There is a clear distinction between personal and official phone
numbers. Official messages from the electricity board or supplier usually come from recognised,
official numbers.
• Do not panic - Exercise caution if any message or caller (from an unknown number)
urges you to take immediate action regarding your electricity bill payment.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency or panic to prevent individuals from
carefully considering the situation.
• Pay attention to content - Scrutinise the message for spelling and grammatical errors,
as well as any inconsistencies. Government notices from any department are usually
well drafted and free of such errors and awkward punctuations.
• Reach out directly to the relevant department - If you have missed a payment or
encounter suspicious communication, reach out directly to the electricity board or
supplier using the official contact details provided on your previous bills.
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1 June 2024
KYC Update frauds
In a press release, RBI has said that the
modus operandi of such type of frauds usually
involves individuals receiving unsolicited
communications, including phone calls/SMS/
emails, through which they are manipulated
into revealing personal information, account/
login details, or installing unauthorized or
unverified apps through links provided in the
messages.
RBI has also urged individuals to not share
account login credentials, card information,
PINs, passwords, and OTPs with anyone.
Further, the RBI requested individuals to not
share KYC documents or copies of KYC
documents with unknown or unidentified
individuals or organizations. As soon as
individuals notice that they have been victims of financial cyber fraud, they should immediately lodge a
complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or through the
cybercrime helpline (1930).
Here is what else you can do if you have been a victim of financial cyber frauds:
• In the event of receiving any request for KYC updation, directly contact your bank/ financial institution
for confirmation/ assistance.
• Obtain the contact number/ customer care phone number of the bank/ financial institution only through
its official website or official sources.
• Inform your bank/ financial institution immediately in case of any cyber fraud incident.
• Enquire with your bank branch to ascertain available modes/ options for updating KYC details.
If you have found this useful, kindly share it with all those you care for.
Links to our recent issues Expert Speak
1. Grahak Sathi Yuva (April 2024) In this issue,
2. Should you Repair or Replace your Appliance Dr. Prabodh Halde,
3. Grahak Sathi Educates and Empowers Consumers Head - Regulatory,
4. Grahak Sathi Helps Consumers to get their Marico Ltd. talks about
Food Categorization as
Complaints Resolved
per FSSAI
5. Grahak Sathi Yuva (May 2024) Dr. Prabodh Halde
Grahak Sathi is now available in seven languages - English, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali and Tamil.
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1 June 2024
