These days, there is a wave of cyber crime incidents in the country. Every day, hundreds of such news are coming in which people are losing their hard earned money at the hands of cyber criminals. It is not that only illiterate or less educated people are losing their earnings, well-educated people are becoming victims of cyber criminals. That is, no one, whatever their education or profession, is safe from digital fraud.
In November 2024, a retired engineer in Delhi became a victim of cyber fraud and was duped of Rs 10 crore. Despite being an engineer, the cyber criminals managed to digitally arrest the man for eight hours and used up his life savings in this fraud. His family is well educated and was living abroad. But he too could not escape this cyber crime.
Cyber criminals are also targeting highly educated and professional people
What is obscured by this incident is that even the most educated individuals are at risk of becoming victims of cybercrime. Many people still operate under the misconception that cyber scammers primarily target uneducated or uninformed individuals in rural areas. Cybercriminals are now targeting even the highly educated and professional, exploiting their trust and vulnerabilities.
Case 1: Retired engineer in Delhi suffers loss of Rs 10 crore
The story of the retired engineer, whose name is unknown, is a chilling example of how fraudsters dupe their victims. The Delhi-based engineer received a phone call from abroad, which led to a fraud of Rs 10 crore. The cyber criminals kept him under digital arrest for several hours and told him that he was named in several crimes. He then transferred the money to the accounts of the cyber criminals with his own hands. It is significant that the engineer was not only well educated but also experienced in technical fields, which shows that no one is safe from this growing threat.
Case 2: Software engineer in Ghaziabad suffers loss of Rs 10 lakh
In another recent incident in Ghaziabad, a software engineer named Gargi Gupta was “digitally arrested” for 24 hours by cyber criminals. These fraudsters posed as law enforcement officials (ED and CBI), and falsely accused her of sending drugs to Canada via courier. During her ordeal of 24 hours, the criminals siphoned off Rs 10 lakh from her account. The scariest part of her experience is that she was an educated professional, yet fell prey to such a well-planned scam. The incident took place on November 29.
Case 3: Doctor in Prayagraj suffers loss of Rs 50 lakh
Cyber criminals are not limiting their victims to just engineers or software professionals. A doctor in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, fell prey to a cyber fraud that cost him Rs 50 lakh. The fraudsters sent him an APK file that led to the theft of his funds. The incident, which took place on December 4, shows that even highly trained professionals like doctors are vulnerable.
Case 4: Retired teacher in Ghaziabad suffers loss of Rs 35 lakh
A 67-year-old retired teacher named Asha Kapoor in Ghaziabad fell victim to cyber fraud. Posing as police officers, fraudsters "digitally arrested" the teacher, threatened her and eventually transferred Rs 35 lakh from her account. This disturbing incident, which took place on November 20, underlines that even the most senior members of society, such as teachers, are falling prey to digital crimes.
Case 5: Mumbai woman suffers loss of Rs 1.7 lakh
A particularly shocking case took place in Mumbai, where a 26-year-old woman working in a pharmaceutical company was “digitally duped” and forced to transfer Rs 1.7 lakh. The fraudsters went to such terrifying levels of trickery that the victim even had to undress. By the time she realised she had been duped, money had been withdrawn from her account. The incident, which took place in Borivali East on November 26, highlights the extreme tactics cybercriminals are now employing to exploit their victims.
How to protect yourself from cyber fraud
With cybercrime on the rise, it is important to stay vigilant. Here are some simple steps to protect yourself from falling victim to fraud...
- Do not trust unknown calls or messages. If you receive a call or message from an unfamiliar number, especially from abroad, do not respond.
- Avoid sharing personal information, never disclose sensitive information like bank details or passwords over the phone or online.
- Be cautious of unfamiliar threats, if someone claims to be a police officer or government official and threatens you with legal consequences or demands money, it is probably a scam. Report such incidents to the police immediately.
- Inform your loved ones, keep your family members informed about potential scams and signs to look out for.
- The rise in cyber frauds is a wake-up call for everyone, regardless of their education or profession. If even highly educated and tech-savvy individuals can fall prey to these scams, it is essential for all of us to be vigilant and informed.cyber crime, digital arrest scams, cyber criminal, digital arrest,, online gambling, online gambling in the world, cyber crime news,
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