India is at the cusp of a change. We are living in an era where massive use of internet & cloud based apps for eGOVERNANCE, TAXATION, BANKING TRANSACTIONS, TRAVEL, EDUCATION, MEDICAL RECORDS, e-COMMERCE, SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING is norm of the day.

While all this is making us technologically advanced to stay "informed", it is also increasing our vulnerability and exposure to unintended cyber crimes, financial frauds and unlawful activities.

This blog is part of a conscious effort to share contemporary news focused on above aspect as well as keep on updating the enhancing the awareness of subscribers to secure their interest and personal rights. We intend to transform this blog from one dimensional advisorial blog posts to fully functional, multi dimensional, multi locational legal assistance platform.

So keep visiting & subscribe to feed. Stay informed, Stay alert and be safe. God bless you all.
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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Awareness & Precaution against - Impersonation & Money Frauds in Online Shopping

 The era of computers has brought comforts to life. In busy schedule of a human being, where it is difficult to find out time for oneself, going out for shopping seems a distant desire. Life has become fast moving just in the click of a button, so why shopping be delayed? Thanks to the innovation of internet, where buying things is also a click away. We very well know that boon and bane walk hand in hand, so does the threat of being defrauded online revolves around the advantage of online shopping.

ATM frauds are commonly witnessed and reported often. Many different kinds of cyber-crimes are committed using ATM cards, one such being that of online shopping fraud. Such frauds take place by way of using ATM card information whether or not the card is in possession of the fraudster. Generally, they do not possess your ATM card or its information but they trick you around to get the same.

Typically, fraudsters call up the victims. While the victim is doing an online shopping transaction for himself and the fraudster will pretend to be a bank official over the call and they inform the victims that their ATM card has been blocked. Listening to this, many victims panic and narrate their grievance against the same. Taking advantage of the same, they offer consolation and help to unblock the same. For the said purpose, they will ask your card number, CVV number, expiry date etc, and the victim provides the information in the name of solution to their problem. While the victim narrates the details, the fraudsters keep filling it on the final payment portal open on their desktop. This way, they use your information to make payment for their shopping. They will take your One Time Password (OTP) asking if you have received any code from the bank and thus, on receiving your OTP, their transaction gets successful and victim’s money get debited.

In such crimes, it becomes difficult to prove the guilt of the fraudsters beyond reasonable doubt, since neither they possess any stolen property or ATM cards nor do they come under theft of money.

India Forensic Social - Advice:
  • Never panic on receiving any such calls from the bank. Only your card is blocked, money is still safe.
  • Never share your details with anybody. Banks will not need your ATM Pin, CVV, OTP, etc., only card number can solve the purpose for them.
  • Read the messages received from the banks carefully. Messages containing OTP generally have the phrase “OTP for the TRANSACTION initiated by you”. The banks will not initiate any transaction, especially, consider their inability when the card is already blocked.
  •  There is no harm in using ATM cards and making transactions online, but prevention is better than cure. Have a cautious dealing which cards.



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