Cybercrimes: Two lakh tech-supported crimes detected this year
Mumbai: With the proliferation of technology and the ease of online financial transactions from home, instances of technology-supported cyber crimes have also increased manifold: cybersecurity researchers detected and blocked more than 200,000 tech-supported attacks in India since January 2021.
According to reports, these researchers revealed that fraudsters often use scare tactics to trick unsuspecting individuals into purchasing overpriced and unnecessary support services under the guise of fixing a targeted computer, electronic device, or sorting out a software problem.
“Once granted access, these fraudsters can install malware or malicious programs that damage data on the devices. They now have access to the individual’s personal information which can be misused,” the researchers said.
According to a report submitted by Avast, a leading Indian cyber-security company, tech-supported frauds have become a major issue in India. Malware Analyst at Avast, Alexei Savcin, said technology-supported fraud is increasingly common and targets some of the most vulnerable individuals. Criminals exploit victims through money or personal information.
“Remember that whether it’s a phone call or a website, legitimate technology support will never proactively seek you to fix an issue. If in doubt, do not engage, give access to devices, or share any personal information,” he added.
Also, cybercriminals with a hold on personal information can have access to and manipulate financial accounts, health records, and other essential services. Fraudsters strategize scams by creating fake web pages that imitate antivirus or firewall software warnings or even setting up fake companies to appear genuine.
“Once on the phone, scammers try to convince the callers to establish a remote connection to their computer and sometimes download a second remote management software, without the user’s knowledge, to keep up a constant connection to the user’s personal computer,” the researchers warned.
(Avya Mathur)
