Amid online frauds, Maha cyber dept asks citizens to avoid video calls, friend requests from unknown persons


PTI, Aug 7, 2022, 12:02 PM IST

The Maharashtra cyber department has asked people to remain alert against online frauds and not to respond to video calls, friend requests from unknown persons and threatening calls from people posing as police officers. The state cyber department has received several such complaints and also of people being duped under the pretext of electricity bills, through loan apps and online marketplaces, an official from the department said.

People need to be aware before applying for anything online or while clicking any link, he said. There have been cases of women seen in objectionable condition in video calls and then fraudsters posing as officers of Delhi cyber police to extort money from people, he said.

People should not accept video calls from unknown numbers. If they receive the call again, they should block that number or contact local police and inform them about it, the official said. Also, people should not accept friend requests from unknown persons. In most of such cases, fraudsters use pictures of women, gain confidence of people and then try to extort money from them by threatening to file cases, he said.

The state cyber department has received around 400 complaints pertaining to callers threatening people by saying their electricity supply will be disconnected due to non-payment of dues, he said.

Before doing any transaction with such callers, people should contact the power company’s customer care cell, check their power meter or ask the company if it had hired someone to call on its behalf, he said.

The official also said there have been cases recently of people committing suicide due to harassment from agents of loan apps.

”We request people not to take loan of small amounts like Rs 2,000 or Rs 10,000 through online apps as many of them indulge in extortion. People should go to banks to take loans,” he said.

The cyber department has also received around 200 complaints of cheating, with fraudsters posing as representatives of online marketplaces offering to buy and sell various products, he said.

In such cases, people should not pay money online. They should have a physical communication with the buyers/ sellers and pay in cash, the official said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Mangalore University to host Intercollegiate Women’s Kabaddi tournament at Besant College

I’m not anti-business, I’m anti-monopoly: Rahul

Ready to give life to stop division of people on basis of religion, caste: Mamata

‘Vaada Diya, Poora Kiya’: Karnataka CM hits back at Maharashtra BJP over ‘misleading’ ads

Suniel Shetty ‘absolutely fine’ after minor injury on set, thanks fans for love

I’m not anti-business, I’m anti-monopoly: Rahul Gandhi

JPC Chairman’s visit over Waqf row is politically motivated, says Karnataka Deputy CM

Related Articles More

I’m not anti-business, I’m anti-monopoly: Rahul

Ready to give life to stop division of people on basis of religion, caste: Mamata

Govt school teacher in Tamil Nadu dies of cardiac arrest while teaching

Case against online marketplaces for selling apparel idiolising Bishnoi, Dawood

In a win for Elon Musk, Scindia says no to spectrum auction pitch from Ambani, Mittal

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Mangalore University to host Intercollegiate Women’s Kabaddi tournament at Besant College

I’m not anti-business, I’m anti-monopoly: Rahul

Ready to give life to stop division of people on basis of religion, caste: Mamata

The Role of Screening and Early Detection in Liver Cancer

Govt school teacher in Tamil Nadu dies of cardiac arrest while teaching

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.