Recent reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs have revealed that online fraudsters are still using messaging services including WhatsApp and social media apps like Telegram and Instagram. As per the recent report of MHA, these platforms have become the most common victims of cybercriminal activities. In the first three months of 2024, there were 43,263 complaints regarding frauds using WhatsApp, 22,680 involving Telegram and 19,800 concerning Instagram. Such a high incidence of social media fraud proves that such sections are being actively targeted by hackers.
The digital world is ever expanding and as this is the case, the cyber fraudsters do not lag behind and are always inventing new ways of fooling the users. With the popularity of instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp and social media applications like Telegram and Instagram, these are the ones that are being exploited most often because of the reach and the simplicity of the communication. Phishing attacks involve criminals pretending to be a ‘real’ person, or a genuine institution, and persuading users into revealing personal details or paying money. These scams have led to an increase in social media fraud where millions of people have been defrauded globally.
Money Laundering and Cyber Slavery Scams
The MHA’s annual report of 2023-2024 has also highlighted the increasing number of scams related to money laundering and cyber slavery. Organized criminals are now using Google services such as Google Advertising platform to execute these scams. The ‘Pig Butchering Scam’ is one of the most common types of scams, which is an investment scam, and apart from financial loss, contributes to money laundering and occasionally, cyber enslavement.
These scams target the innocent people who include students, housewives, unemployed youth, and those who are financially desperate to invest in high return schemes. These con artists lure these people into using sizable amounts of cash, most of which has been borrowed from other financial institutions, and all the victims receive is nothing. This causes a huge financial and emotional impact on victims, which is why it is crucial to be attentive on what is happening online. Such frauds are usually associated with social media fraud, in which the scammers themselves invite people to communicate with them.
Partnerships for Combating Cybercrimes
In its effort to curb the emerging incidence of cyber fraud, the Indian government is in the process of partnering with leading technology giants including Google and Facebook. In India, attempts have been made through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to provide intelligence and track down unlawful digital lending applications and freeze unlawful activities on Google’s Firebase, which is a common cybercriminal platform. The I4C also targets the identification of Android banking malware and other new-generation cyber threats that use social media fraud as means of operation.
One of the key elements of this cooperation is constant improvement of skills and knowledge of the employees of the police, forensic experts, attorneys and judges in the country. Cybersecurity and digital forensics training help Indian authorities investigate and prosecute more cybercriminals effectively. The cooperation of the executive and legislative branches with technology companies is one of the key factors in combating scams and creating a more secure environment for users, including those who fall for social media scams.
Report a Cyber Crime: A Crucial Stage for Safety
Since online frauds have become rampant, it is important for victims to know how to report a cyber crime. In India the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal which was started by the Government of India provides an easy interface where a person can easily report about different types of cyber crimes like hacking, impersonation, cyber frauds, and cyber bullying. Complainants can readily give their complaints, upload relevant documents and check the status of their cases.
The portal is expected to assist users by offering information on cyber safety and also provide information on how one can avoid falling victim to cyber criminals. This means that users are capable of reporting a cyber crime through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal immediately, which will trigger the necessary action to be taken to address the problem and safeguard the user’s interest.
Recent cases of cyber frauds involving fake messages on WhatsApp, Telegram and fake investment proposals on Instagram show you need to be always on your guard and be aware of the various scams out there. This is a good example of social media fraud and explains why it is essential for users to be more cautious in social media. This increasing threat requires government and technology company partnerships for dealing with. Also, the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal is a great opportunity for users to report a cyber crime and get justice. Citizens must report cybercrimes and learn how to prevent these scams and other frauds in their digital lives.
source:: business-standard
