- By Shibra Arshad
- Tue, 30 Dec 2025 08:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Greetings Scam: With only a day left in the new year, the scammers have found a new opportunity to scam and dupe people. Cyber criminals have begun circulating dangerous WhatsApp and Telegram greetings to get control of people’s phones and bank accounts under the guise of New Year’s messages.
Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) have warned against cyber crimes, as it said that scammers are using festivals’ goodwill as a tool to attack, which makes it harder to spot.
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What Is ‘Greetings Scam’
People are receiving messages that appear to be New Year’s wishes from a trusted contact, whose account has already been hacked. The message includes links with texts like ‘special personalised greeting’, a ‘New Year gift’, or an ‘SBI year-end reward'. The link, which seems to have ‘gifts’ from loved ones, is actually used to get control of your device.
What If You Click The Link
Police warn that clicking the link automatically installs a malicious APK (Android Package Kit) on the phone without any prompt. Instead of displaying a simple greeting, the malware quietly grants hackers full remote control over the device. It goes beyond stealing data, the malware basically ‘kidnaps’ the entire phone, allowing cybercriminals to operate it as if it were their own.
What Can People Do To Protect Themselves
- Never click on links: Avoid opening links sent as greetings, gifts or offers, even if they come from friends or family.
- Block APK files: Do not install apps sent through messaging platforms.
- Enable 2FA: Turn on two-step verification on WhatsApp to prevent account hijacking.
- Update officially: Download apps and updates only from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Disconnect immediately: If you click a suspicious link, turn off internet access, uninstall unknown apps and inform your bank at once.