In a recent incident of cyber fraud, a Mumbai man was duped of Rs 5 lakh by a scammer who posed as a prominent public figure. The fraudster claimed to be the former First Lady of Afghanistan and convinced the victim to transfer the money for a charity project. However, it turned out to be a well-planned scam, and the victim realized it too late. This incident once again highlights the need for caution while dealing with unknown persons on the internet. In this article, we will discuss the details of the fraud, the precautions one can take to avoid such incidents, and the rising trend of cybercrimes in India.
A 71-year-old man from Mumbai was allegedly duped of Rs 5 lakh by a cyber fraudster who posed as the former ‘first lady of Afghanistan’. The incident came to light on April 8 when the victim, an accountant living in suburban Andheri approached the police with a complaint of cheating. The complainant, identified as Rameshkumar Shah, claimed that he received an email on February 18, in which the sender introduced herself as the “former first lady of Afghanistan” Rula Ghani, and sought his help in India.
The fraudulent sender informed Shah that she was interested in investing $22 million in India, and the amount would be deposited in his account. The sender promised that Shah would get 25% of the $22 million and would have to invest the rest of the amount in a business from which they would profit. In order to win the trust of the victim, the sender also forwarded a copy of a passport, two photographs and a receipt of $22 million.
Shah was then informed that the managing director of a bank in Indonesia will contact him for further instructions, and accordingly, he received a call on WhatsApp from an international number, and the caller identified himself as Rula’s representative. Shah was asked to open an account in an Indonesian bank to start the entire process and to deposit $360. After some days, the caller again asked Shah to deposit some money to convert the offshore account into a local one, and the victim had lost Rs 5 lakh in the transactions.
When the caller stopped responding to his calls, Shah realised that he had been cheated. An FIR was registered under section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act against the unidentified cyber fraudsters.
The incident is a classic example of how cyber fraudsters can dupe people using social engineering tactics. Social engineering is a type of cyber attack that relies on psychological manipulation to trick victims into divulging confidential information, usually through email or phone calls.
Fraudsters use various tactics such as posing as a person in authority, creating a sense of urgency, offering something that is too good to be true, or using fear tactics to get their victims to reveal sensitive information. Once they have this information, cybercriminals can use it to defraud their victims.
To avoid falling victim to social engineering tactics, it is crucial to be aware of such tricks used by fraudsters. It is also essential to keep a check on unsolicited emails or phone calls, especially those that ask for sensitive information, such as bank account details, passwords, or credit card information.
One should also be careful when dealing with any email that contains suspicious or unexpected links or attachments. It is recommended always to verify the sender’s credentials and the authenticity of any email or message received, especially if it pertains to financial or sensitive information.
In conclusion, cybersecurity is critical in today’s digital age, and individuals should take steps to protect themselves from cyber fraudsters. Cybercriminals are always changing their tactics; hence it is essential to stay informed and maintain a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Raising awareness among people about the dangers of cybercrime is the first step towards creating better digital hygiene practices and a safer digital environment.
