Thursday, 31 October 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Authorities have urged the public in Uttarakhand to remain cautious of cyber scams disguised as festive greetings during Deepawali. These fraudulent links are often embedded in SMS, WhatsApp and social media messages and are crafted to look harmless or even heartfelt, offering discounts, exclusive deals or simply warm wishes for the holiday. Once clicked, the link may lead to fake websites that prompt users to input sensitive data such as bank details, passwords or OTPs. Some links even carry malicious software that installs itself on the victim’s phone, granting cybercriminals remote access to personal data and online banking credentials.
The deputy superintendent of police of Dehradun cyber crime police station of the Special Task Force (STF) Ankush Mishra also said that cybercrime is on the rise and cybercriminals can use Deepawali greetings to send phishing links that may look like genuine holiday messages. One click is all it takes for these scammers to wipe out bank accounts, he warned. Fraudulent links are increasingly embedded in messages and social media posts, designed to appear as festive wishes, offers, or exclusive deals. These scams are often crafted to appear harmless, even warm-hearted, to lure recipients into clicking. To protect against these scams, Mishra advised people to avoid clicking on links from unknown senders, even if they appear festive. “Always verify the source, especially if the message asks for sensitive information or contains deals that seem too good to be true,” the DSP said.
The police have also warned the public about this potential scam via social media as well. Mishra also appealed to everyone to celebrate safely and remain cautious of unsolicited messages that may seem joyful but could lead to severe financial consequences. Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities immediately, he added.
