Adv. Vivek Sharma concludes with a strong reminder: "No legi mate en ty will pressure you into making immediate decisions over the phone.
Adv. Vivek Sharma
In today’s rapidly evolving digital age, technology has revolutionized every aspect of our lives, making the world more interconnected and daily tasks remarkably convenient. From instant communication to seamless financial transactions, technological advancements have brought unparalleled benefits. However, alongside these advantages lies a darker reality—the alarming rise in cybercrime. As technology integrates deeper into our lives, fraudsters are exploiting its vulnerabilities to deceive and defraud unsuspecting individuals. Unfortunately, despite the growing threats, awareness and education about these crimes remain inadequate, leaving many at risk of falling victim to their tactics.
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The increasing prevalence of cybercrime has alarmed individuals and authorities, with fraudsters employing sophisticated tactics to exploit people’s fears and vulnerabilities. Advocate Vivek Sharma has come forward to provide essential advice for citizens to safeguard themselves from falling prey to such deceptions. Scammers often pose as officials from organizations like TRAI, FedEx, Police or even the bureaucrats to deceive victims.
These calls are usually regarding warning about phone disconnection, suspicious packages, or irregularities in Aadhaar information are designed to create panic and coerce immediate action. These claims are entirely baseless and are meant to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information or transferring money. Nowadays, the most common cunning ploy involves fraudsters alleging that the victim is under 'digital arrest' or linked to a package containing illegal substances like drugs.
These calls are not just fraudulent but aim to exploit fear and compel victims to comply without question. Citizens are advised to remain calm and avoid responding to such threats.
Fraudsters have increasingly turned to deceptive schemes targeting individuals' finances and privacy. One common tactic involves luring victims with promises of lucrative returns through investments in the stock market, trading, or shares. These scammers fabricate convincing narratives to gain trust, only to vanish with the victims' hard-earned money.
Equally alarming is the rise in extortion attempts where fraudsters accuse individuals of browsing explicit websites. Leveraging fear and embarrassment, they demand hefty penalties under the guise of avoiding legal repercussions. Both schemes highlight the need for vigilance and awareness to avoid falling prey to these manipulative tactics.
Fraudsters increasingly leverage technology, contacting victims through WhatsApp or SMS with malicious links. Clicking on these links or responding to such messages can result in significant financial losses or data breaches. Citizens must also be wary of phishing attempts that request OTPs, even under seemingly legitimate pretexts. In the face of these growing threats, Advocate Vivek Sharma stresses the importance of vigilance and critical thinking. He advises citizens never to share sensitive details like debit or credit card information, OTPs, or CVV numbers over the phone. Instead, any official communication should be verified directly with the concerned authorities, preferably through offline channels or official websites. Sharma highlights that legitimate notices from police stations, courts, or government agencies are served through proper channels, such as registered post or official summons.
Any unsolicited calls claiming to represent these bodies are almost certainly scams. He also enlightens the citizens about the initiatives taken by the Government by establishing separate bodies to specially deal with the said cyber crimes in order to give speedy redressals to the victims. One of the initiatives taken by the Government is by creating a toll-free helpline number wherein the reporting of such incidents can be done immediately to the respective authorities by calling 1930 or the citizens can also report about such incidents using the official portal cybercrime.gov.in. After filing the said online complaints, the citizens are further advised to report about the same to a nearby local Police Station. He advises individuals to block unknown or suspicious numbers marked as spam or fraud and to avoid engaging with callers who pressurize them with threats or urgency. If a caller mentions an emergency involving a loved one, citizens should independently verify the information by contacting the individual or relevant authorities. Advocate Sharma warns that scammers exploit human emotions like fear and greed to their advantage. He urges everyone to be cautious of offers promising easy loans, lucrative investments, or once-in-a-lifetime deals, as these are often traps. By practicing patience and skepticism, citizens can better protect themselves from the devastating consequences of cyber fraud. Adv. Vivek Sharma concludes with a strong reminder: "No legitimate entity will pressure you into making immediate decisions over the phone. Pause, think, and verify. Awareness is your greatest tool against these predators."