Beware of Cyber Scammers: New Tactics and Targeting Celebrities
Cybercriminals’ techniques for deceiving unsuspecting victims are constantly evolving, and their latest scam involves setting up fake customer service centers. These astute individuals have even gone so far as to impersonate police officers and converse fluently in English. What’s remarkable is that this time, instead of starting with an ordinary person, they chose a celebrity. Let’s look into this new police scam with Technical Dost and find out more about it.
Phishing scam- Just got an automated call saying “This call is from @DelhiPolice, a document of yours needs to be picked up, stay on the line and press…*garbled*. I randomly press 1, it connects me to a man claiming to be a cop, asking why *I* have called the police line….🤣 🧵
— Sucharita (@Su4ita) June 4, 2023
Celebrities Speak Out: Sucharita Tyagi’s Experience
Sucharita Tyagi, a well-known film critic, recently shared on Twitter her experience with an attempted scam. She received a call from an unknown number, and when she answered, a voice that sounded like an automated customer service system identified itself as Delhi Police.
Rahul Singh, sub-inspector Kirti Nagar police station @DelhiPolice , is who he claims to be, upon me pressing he identify himself. Then he asks me to tell him my name, types something *tap tap* and says “ah yes SUJATA, do you have any documents missing. Aadhar PAN ATM card” lol
— Sucharita (@Su4ita) June 4, 2023
Scammer’s Approach
The voice claimed that some of her documents had been delivered and asked her to dial a number for more information. Sucharita Tyagi was connected to a man who identified himself as Rahul Singh, a sub-inspector from the Kirti Nagar Police Station after she complied.
Obvious at this point yeh scam hai, I’m mildly curious and I say “nope I’ve got everything”. Next question, “You’ve not heard of Vipul Singh? Caught with all these stolen ATM cards?” “Nope”. Well SUJATA, one of the cards has your name on it. Can you confirm the last 4 digits 🤡
— Sucharita (@Su4ita) June 4, 2023
Suspicion Arises: The Scammer’s Questions
Despite the fact that the call appeared to be from the police, Sucharita was questioned as to why she had contacted the Delhi Police. Then she was asked basic questions like her name and address. However, the true intention soon became clear.
Bass means my patience is this much only, Sunday morning hai after all. Toh I hang up saying “I’ll get in touch with Kirti Nagar police station directly”.
Anyway, the automated call and the English speaking man on the other end were VERY convincing. +91 96681 9555 was the number
— Sucharita (@Su4ita) June 4, 2023
The Trap: Gathering Personal Data
The alleged cop inquired whether her Aadhaar card, PAN card, or ATM card had recently been stolen. Sucharita recognized the scam and stated that all of her documents were complete. However, the caller persisted, claiming that a man named Vipul Singh had been apprehended and that among the items recovered were ATM cards, one of which belonged to Sucharita.
It would be SO easy to fall for this for a senior citizen or someone who isn’t prepared to be scammed everytime the phone rings in 2023.
Sawdhaan Rahein. Satark Rahein.
— Sucharita (@Su4ita) June 4, 2023
Escaping the Scam: Disconnecting and Raising Awareness
The caller then asked for the card’s last four digits. Sucharita’s patience had run out at this point, and she hung up the phone, deciding to contact the Kirti Nagar police station directly. The outcome could have been different if Sucharita had fallen into the scammers’ trap.
The scammers use a novel technique in which they converse with you in proper English. Their approach, according to Sucharita, could easily fool anyone. One notable difference was the use of a 9-digit mobile number rather than the standard 10-digit number. Many people shared similar experiences in response to Sucharita’s tweet. A new fraud trend appears to have emerged, and it is critical to remain vigilant.
You may register your complaint on the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal https://t.co/31HYfBIJGu or https://t.co/P83rglFT1S.
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) June 4, 2023
The world of cybercrime is constantly changing, and everyone, including celebrities, must stay informed and cautious. Scammers’ tactics are becoming more sophisticated, with official-sounding voices and fluent English being used to gain victims’ trust. Never give out personal or financial information over the phone, especially if the caller claims to be from a customer service center or a law enforcement agency. If you suspect any fraudulent activity, report it to the authorities and spread the word to keep others safe from these cyber thugs. Stay vigilant and safe!
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