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A 57-year-old woman from Bengaluru lost ₹ 2 lakhs in a sophisticated IVR scam. In the case of a concern, a Bangalore woman lost ₹ 2 lakh for a sophisticated scam with a fake interactive voice response (IVR) call. This event highlights the growing strategies of cyber criminals and the need to be more vigilant among the people.
The Incident
The woman got a call from her bank. The automatic message informed her about the ₹ 2 lakh transfer pending from her account and advised her to press ‘1’ to dispute the transaction. To do so, the money from her account was immediately debited.
Unusual twist
Unlike traditional IVR scams, victims are deceived to expose personal information, and the case is unique. The woman did not share any sensitive details and expressed concern about the new method of using cheaters to skip security measures.
Research and prevention
Cybercrime Investigators are currently considering the event to understand the process of executive and identify any potential vulnerability. It is suggested that people should be careful about such calls and stop pressing any buttons without verifying the collar identification. It is crucial to contact the bank directly through official means for any account related concerns.
New scam?
Cybercrime investigators suspect that scammers are employing a more advanced strategy than previously seen. While traditional IVR scams typically trick victims into sharing sensitive banking details, this case is unusual because no credentials were explicitly entered.
According to TOI, a senior police officer suggested that either the victim unknowingly provided key information or the fraudsters have developed a new technique to bypass security measures.
Immediate Action Taken
When Sumitra checked his bank balance, he found that he had debited ₹ 2 lakh from his account. She went to the bank, where the manager called the Cyber Helpline (1930) and advised him to file a complaint. She lodged a complaint with Girinagar police.
The case has been registered under Section 318 of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Legal Samhita (BNS) for cheating.
Strange case: Cops
A senior police officer said, commonly during IVR call, the fraudsters will set the voice message asking for credentials of their target, such as debit card’s last four digits, bank account number, or date of birth, email ID, or data which require to authenticate online banking. “Once the victim shares the information, the money is siphoned off. Without sharing the credentials, it is not possible to siphon off money just by pressing the options 3 or 1 or 9,” he explained.
“In this case, the victim appears to be hiding some facts. She may have responded to the voice message and shared some information that requires them to siphon off money by accessing her account. If she is not hiding anything, then this is something very new to us. There will be clarity only after investigation,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IVR scam?
The IVR scam has a pre -recorded message that acts as a legitimate organization such as a bank or government agency. These messages are often aimed at capturing personal information or deceive the victims to disrupt their safety.
1.How do I protect myself from IVR scams?
Never share personal information on the phone unless you start a call and trust the recipient. Be careful with unsolicited calls and verify the collar identification by contacting the company directly through the official channels.
2.What should I do if I suspect that I was exposed to IVR scam?
Contact your bank immediately and report the incident to Cybercrime Helpline 1930. You should also file a police complaint with relevant details.
3.Are there any red flags I have to see?
Suspect calls that cause urgent sense or pressure to take action immediately. Legal organizations never ask for sensitive information such as passwords or OTPs on the phone.
4.What is the government doing to curb cyber crimes?
The government has implemented many programs to counter cybercrime, including awareness campaigns, stringent regulations and dedicated cybercrime cells. However, it is important to take the necessary precautions to be vigilant and protect themselves.
This event completely reminds of the rising threat of cybercrime and the need to be constantly vigilant. By giving information and adopting safe methods, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of such frauds.
