In today’s time, many messages come every day through WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and SMS. Many of these messages are simple “Hi”, “Hello” or friendship initiations. People often respond to such messages without thinking, but this small mistake can become the cause of big cyber fraud.
“Cyber Dost”, a cyber security platform working under a government agency, has warned people to beware of such online scams. The agency said through a social media post that it is very important to be cautious before responding to simple messages from unknown people.
How do cyber thugs trap you?
Cyber criminals initially talk very casually so as to win the trust of the other person. Many times they present themselves as bank officers, company representatives or any online service agents. After this, they trap people by sending fake banking alerts, messages about winning prizes, KYC updates or links.
As soon as a person clicks on the link or shares their personal information, scammers steal bank accounts, OTPs, passwords or other sensitive details. After this, the situation may reach till the bank account becomes empty.
Take these precautions while making friends online
According to cyber experts, it is very important to be cautious while talking to any unknown person online. If an unknown number is repeatedly sending messages, do not respond without checking his identity.
Before clicking on any link, please check its authenticity. Banks, government agencies or companies never ask for OTP, ATM PIN or password through chat. Apart from this, keep two-factor authentication on on social media accounts.
Cyber friend alerted people
Cyber Dost has clearly stated in his post that cyber thugs use very simple methods to target innocent people. Therefore, do not make the mistake of taking even a simple message like “Hi” lightly. Awareness and vigilance are the biggest weapons to avoid cyber fraud.
