Recently, India has seen a drastic increase in online scams. There’s always new news that someone got scammed. Cybercrime is rising everywhere. These scams have caused many individuals to lose both their money and trust. And, it can be said that these scammers are getting smarter each day by devising new ways to convince people to give them their money. Sometimes it’s by the tactics of charity, help, loan, and many other things. One of the crafty tricks that they use these days is pretending to be officers from agencies like the NCB and IPS. It’s quite shocking that they are using official generals for such scams, we can say that they are afraid of nothing.
In a recent case of cybercrime that’s quite shocking, a woman in Gurugram got caught up in a big scam. Let us clear it up for you! It all started with a call from a courier company that seemed harmless. But then, the woman got more calls from people who claimed to be IPS officers. They fabricated a story about a package with her name being found at the airport. This is a kind of trick that has caused this lady a huge price. We are going to give you comprehensive details about this scam, how it happened, and why it’s very crucial to be cautious in the digital era where scams are common.
Woman Scammed by Fake IPS Officers: The Victim’s Story
Prachi Sharma, a victim of cybercrime, is a resident of the Housing Board Society in Gurugram who is currently residing in Greater Noida as per various sources had an unsettling experience on the day of May 3rd, 2023.
The victim got a Skype call from an unfamiliar user. These strangers who called her stated that they were calling from the Mumbai Crime Branch and have some alarming news for her. The fake IPS officers told her that a package which belonged to her, had her name mentioned on it, had reached the airport, and it was suspected to hold drugs and foreign money. They also mentioned that an investigation was in progress.
Wary of the strange call, Prachi wanted to be sure about who was calling. The scammers, who identified themselves as Bal Singh Rajput and Smita Patel, even presented their fake identity cards during the chat. They claimed they could access her bank account and requested her assistance with their investigation.
As time went by and the victim provided her bank information and identity proofs, the scammers became more forceful. They took advantage of her details such as bank information and IDs to threaten her and her family members. Further, they have also warned her against legal problems related to financial crimes and other violations. To provide a solution to this problem, they asked her to send a significant amount of Rs 8.3 lakh to clear their made-up case.
Out of fear of facing some serious allegations along with the charges, the victim i.e. Prachi reluctantly transferred the amount to them in an attempt to protect her and her family’s reputation. However, once the fraudsters received the money, they promptly blocked her, severed all the contact, and vanished without a single trace. The victim only realized she had been deceived when she visited the police and explained what had happened. Understanding how these scammers work is really important. This is a story that opens our eyes that we all have to be strongly careful about such tactics. We understand that it can be overwhelming at that moment, but having patience in such situations is the key. In order to be more informed about it, let us talk about the operation of these scammers.
How Scammers Implement Online Fraud
Understanding how such scammers work has become essential today in order to stay safe. If you are someone who wants to learn about this, let us provide the key pointers. First of all, in this particular situation, the scammers posed as fake IPS officers, exploiting their position to deceive the victim. This is not something new, people usually implement online frauds by manipulating their identities. Let’s take a look at how they pulled this trick off:
- They constructed the trust: The scammers made themselves seem trustworthy by acting like respected authority figures. They manipulated the victim’s thoughts and made her believe that they are legit officers.
- Made Urgency: They made the situation seem like an emergency. The victim felt like she had to act fast, using fear and pressure. She was convinced to solve the issue at that moment.
- Giving False Details: The fraudsters shared fake ID numbers, even fake identities and made up case information to seem legit real.
- Playing with Emotions: This is a trick that they have successfully pulled by manipulating her emotions. They used the victim’s fear and sense of duty to control her.
- Money Grab: Their main goal was indeed to make her transfer her hard-earned money into their account.
Now that we have mentioned the tricks and tactics they have used, let us point out some ways by which you can save yourself and take precautions against such frauds!
How To Save Yourself From Scammers
These online frauds focus on unsuspecting people, frequently via the medium of phone calls, and use clever tactics to swindle them out of their money. Let’s know how you can shield yourself from such scams and keep yourself safe.
Remain Vigilant for Unexpected Calls – If you get an unexpected call, especially from a number you don’t know then be alarmed. Real police officers seldom call you without prior notice for important matters. When you are in doubt, take your time before placing trust in the call. Keep your eyes and brain open.
Verify the Caller’s Identity – When someone claims to be an IPS officer on the phone, ask for their complete name, badge number, and contact information. Take a note of complete information. Fraudsters often avoid sharing the information or providing false details. To ensure their authenticity, reach out to your local police or the IPS department for confirmation.
Watch Out for Pressure they are putting – Scammers love putting a ton of pressure on you. They might say that you are in big trouble and need to act really fast. But real cops don’t push you into making quick money decisions on the phone. The money part is where you want to be more vigilant.
Keep Personal Information Safe – Never spill the beans about your bank account, Aadhar card, other identity cards, or any secret stuff on the phone, especially if you’re not sure about the caller. Legit officers won’t ask for this stuff during surprise calls.
Double check the Story – Scammers make up unpredictable stories to trick you. If they talk about a package or something fishy in your name, double-check it and ye assurance. Get in touch with your local authorities or the courier company to make sure that it is real.
Don’t Send Money – No matter what happens, never send money over the phone without checking the things out first. Scammers use your emotions to make you send cash. Always get the thumbs-up from the real authorities before you open your wallet.
Trust your Gut – Your instincts are really sharp, believe in them. If something smells fishy about the phone call or the person on the other end, don’t ignore your gut feelings. Being cautious is wiser than facing regrets later.
Knowledge is your Best Defense – Being aware of scams or online frauds is like having a strong shield. Stay updated on the latest tactics that such kind of scammers use and share this knowledge with your family and friends. Information is what saves you, believe us. Together, we can outsmart the scammers.
Report the Strange Calls – If you receive an odd call, don’t keep it to yourself. Maybe someone else is going to be the next prey. So, always report it to your local police quickly. Fast reporting can help you in catching scammers and preventing more people from falling for their tricks.
Block and Screen Calls – Make use of your phone’s features or applications to block or prevent unwanted calls. You can also check calls from unfamiliar numbers. There are so many applications which help you identify the legit number, use those. These measures can help you steer clear of potential scams.
Actions the Officials Take
Nabbing fraudsters is a challenging task, but the police are putting in a lot of effort to understand their tricks and hold them responsible for their illegal actions. We have seen that they are tightening the regulations about cybercrimes and making sure that scammers face the strict consequences. They are making solid rules and regulations for cybercrime to be enforced, and assuring that scammers will be punished.
When caught, the authorities can imprison scammers, impose fines, or even seize the money they unlawfully acquired. These penalties serve as a warning to discourage others from trying to deceive people.
Staying alert and informed is the most important thing here because scammers keep coming up with new tricks again and again.
By comprehending the strategies or tricks these scammers use, raising awareness about online frauds, and backing law enforcement agencies, we can together combat online fraud. It is necessary to keep in mind that scammers are always searching for new potential targets. It can be you, so you have to be strong for yourself.
Nevertheless, with knowledge, smartness, and alertness, you can outsmart them and we can collectively work towards a safer digital environment. Prioritize your safety and ensure your hard-earned money stays out of the wrong hands. All the best!