Beware of ‘Fake online offers’
Be aware of the fake links being circulated on social media platforms by fraudsters as baits to lure people. They make use of these links to gather critical user information to siphon money, hack accounts/passwords, infect devices etc. Using the fake offer message as bait, they manage to convince people to forward it to a chain of people to victimize as many citizens as possible.
Modus Operandi
- User receives messages / links/ posts of offers / gifts/rewards.
- Prompts the user to click on the link or participate in Quiz/survey
- Redirects the user to suspicious sites/links
- Prompts to forward the message to a chain of people for claiming the gift
- Leads to data leaks, malware/virus attacks, and cyber frauds.
Warning Sings - Few pointers to spot the scam
- Tweaked website or email id of the sender
- No genuine website would ask you to share the link with your contacts.
- Impersonalized / generic message/mail
- Messages with spelling & punctuation mistakes
- Requesting unrelated personal details
- Can sound too good to be true
- Fake reviews/comments on the fake website links
Advisory
- Never believe the gift offers messages or emails circulated which are usually used as bait by cyber fraudsters
- Do not forward fake messages, links, or mails to people as prompted by senders without proper verification or authentication.
- Never share your personal details or financial information like login credentials/passwords/credit or debit card details
- Never click on unknown links or download unauthorized apps or software on your digital device s as it can install malicious software on your device.
- Install anti-virus on your digital devices for security and protection.
- Avoid searching for customer care numbers on google, as they can be misleading
- Immediately block the number and report against such fake offers
- Be aware and alert about such attempts of cyber criminals by keeping track of the latest news and updates on the activities of cyber fraudsters.
