- By Vikas Yadav
- Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:25 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
As India readies to conclude 2023, there are a range of bitter memories for internet users who ended up being victims of online fraud this year. These scams ranged from part-time video-liking fraud to the newly evolved AI-backed scams in the age of rising social messaging apps and newer technologies. Instances of AI being deployed for video/audio generation gained traction this year due to the easy availability of free-to-use tools.
These frauds were primarily aimed at taking away hefty cash amounts from victims. If you have faced any of these scams, a set of guidelines to stay one step ahead of these cybercrooks should be the next step. From dating frauds to iPhone 15 lottery, here are a few headline-making scams this year with the precautions to follow.
Part-Time Jobs
If you use Telegram or WhatsApp, you may have received a message to earn money in exchange for liking videos, rating hotels or publishing reviews. Arguably the most-used deception arsenal, this involved giving out cash baits initially and inviting the victim to invest money in exchange for high returns.
Once the user infuses a huge amount into the scammer's account, their wallet is frozen and additional money demands pop up to unlock the bank account. Finally, they end up snapping communication.
In most of the online cases, scammers cut communications after receiving the money. (Image:Canva/Elnur)
To stay safe from these scams, make sure to block and report accounts that promise lucrative cash via simple tasks and avoid engaging in transactions with strangers. Also, make sure not to share any important personal details (identification IDs) during the process.
Online Courier Scams
Flagged by Zerodha CEO Nikhil Kamath in the early days, in this scam, the fraudsters contact the victim and inform them that their parcel was confiscated with illegal items (such as drugs) or huge cash sums and they will have to bear the consequences. They are redirected to another random scammer who poses as a police officer and explains the possible repercussions to the victim.
A scared listener ends up obeying their order, which is primarily money demands. In this type of con, it is advised that you reach out to the official courier helpline from the contact information provided on the official website.
Dating Scams
Used primarily to trick people on online dating apps and youngsters, the trend was on the expected lines where one of the partners ends up scrapping money from the victim after winning trust. Most of these scams were planted around an emergency or the urge to meet the victim.
Scammers target popular dating apps like Bumble or Tinder to dupe their partners. (Image:Pexels)
To stay vigilant against these scams, you must thoroughly verify the background of an individual and not take actions involving money in the heat of the situation or the story narrated by your partner.
Lottery Scams
As the iPhone 15 series debuted with a range of new features to entice buyers, it was also a medium to con people via lucky draw scams. The fraud rose to a level where PIB Fact Check, the fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau, ended up sensitising users. In these cases, you must report the fraud to the cyber officials or the cybercrime portal (or dial 1930).
AI-Aided Scams
As AI implementation scaled to new heights this year, the evolving technology was among the popular mediums to mimic acquaintances using deepfake technology. A recent case was of a WhatsApp user who transferred money on the pretext of a hospital emergency by a scammer. Plus, instances of deepfake video generation of users who picked up calls from unknown numbers were highlighted in media reports.
AI scams can involve faking the personality of a person using their voice, facial expressions or texting style. (Image:Canva/Lerbank-bbk22)
"India's digital boom has spawned a sinister side: AI-powered scams. Scammers now use deepfakes to impersonate loved ones, deploy chatbots for targeted phishing, and leverage language models to craft compelling fake news," tech expert Vinod K Singh told Jagran English.
What AI Packs For The Future?
All these evolving AI threats require newer ways to deal with them. Speaking to Jagran English, Piyush Goel, Founder and CEO of Beyond Key, said: "AI has now raised a storm across the world and in India. Be it in the form of deepfakes, phishing, or even voice mimicry, Indians have fallen prey to all sorts of scams owing to AI. We need the combined strength of tech, law enforcement, the government, and cybersecurity to address this. The best defence against these emerging AI scams is to improve education and public awareness."
Secondly, Singh added, "The fight against AI-powered scams requires a multi-pronged approach: tech giants investing in ethical AI development, law enforcement agencies upskilling in cybercrime, and individuals practising healthy digital hygiene." The tech expert also pointed at "robust data privacy measures" to combat such activity.