In today’s time, mobile has become an essential asset in our lives. Whether it’s banking, making online payments, making calls, or saving documents, everything is connected to this one device. This is why cybercriminals are constantly targeting mobile users and adopting new methods of fraud every day. Now fraudsters have devised another dangerous method of cyber fraud. In this, they call people posing as agents of a delivery or courier company. They ask them to dial a specific code under the pretext of confirming a parcel or rescheduling a delivery. As soon as the user dials that code, call forwarding gets activated on their phone. This causes their OTPs and important calls to be forwarded to another number. This is called the ‘Call Forwarding Scam.’ Recently, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center, or I4C, has issued an alert regarding this scam. I4C has advised people to be vigilant about this scam. So, today, in the Cyber Literacy column, we will talk in detail about the call forwarding scam. We will also know that- Expert: Rahul Mishra, Cyber Security Advisor, Uttar Pradesh Police Question – What is a call forwarding scam? Answer – This is a cyber fraud in which fraudsters activate call forwarding on the user’s phone under some pretext. For this, they identify themselves as a courier or delivery agent and ask the user to dial a special code. As soon as the user dials that code, incoming calls and OTPs on their phone start getting forwarded directly to the fraudsters’ number. This can give them access to the user’s bank and social media accounts. Also read: Parents can now set time limits or freeze kids’ Shorts access on YouTube with new tool
Question – How do cyber fraudsters carry out call forwarding scams? Answer- Cyber fraudsters execute this scam very cleverly. They first call the user pretending to be a courier or delivery agent and talk about a parcel. After gaining trust, they send an SMS. It contains a USSD code starting with *21*, *61*, *67*, or *401*. They say that dialing this code will confirm the parcel or reschedule the delivery. Actually, this code is linked to the fraudster’s mobile number. As soon as the victim dials that code, call forwarding automatically gets activated on their phone. Understand this with the graphic below- Question- What are the dangers of call forwarding scams? Answer- The biggest danger of this is that calls from the bank, transaction OTPs, and verification calls for apps like WhatsApp and Telegram start going directly to the phones of cybercriminals. This allows fraudsters to withdraw money from bank accounts and also take control of social media accounts. Often, the victim only becomes aware of this when their bank account is emptied or their social media account is hacked. In other words, this scam is a major threat to both the user’s financial security and digital identity. Question- Why do people easily fall for the call forwarding scam? Answer- In this scam, fraudsters talk in a very trustworthy manner. As soon as people hear the name ‘delivery’ or ‘parcel’, they assume the call is legitimate. Additionally, a sense of urgency is created. This causes the person to dial the given code without thinking, and they fall victim to the fraud.
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Question- What precautions should be taken to avoid call forwarding scams? Answer- To avoid this scam, it is most important not to immediately trust any unknown caller. If someone asks you to dial a code in the name of courier or delivery, flatly refuse them. Remember, no genuine company asks you to dial such a code. Also, be aware of your phone’s settings and call forwarding options, so that if something happens by mistake, you can immediately turn it off. Understand this with the graphic given below- Question – What should you do immediately if you fall victim to a call forwarding scam? Answer – In such a situation, first immediately dial ##002# to disable all types of call forwarding from your phone. Immediately inform the bank about it. Also, tell your friends and relatives about this, so that they do not fall for any kind of deception in your name. Also read: Crewed Moon rocket leaves assembly building at Kennedy Space Center, major milestone before astronauts head to the Moon
Question – Where can you report a call forwarding scam? Answer – You can report it by calling the cyber crime helpline number 1930 or by visiting the official website www.cybercrime.gov.in. Additionally, you can also file a complaint about it at your nearest police station. The sooner you file a complaint, the higher the chances of avoiding loss.
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