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MHA think tank alerts against 'hijack', sextortion, impersonation scams on WhatsApp

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

MHA think tank alerts against 'hijack', sextortion, impersonation scams on WhatsApp

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has issued an advisory warning against various scams on WhatsApp, including hijacking, sextortion, and impersonation. The advisory highlights fraudulent activities such as hackers gaining unauthorized access to victims' WhatsApp accounts and requesting money from their contacts. BPRD also warns about scams involving missed calls, video calls, job offers, and investment plans. The advisory encourages users to activate two-factor authentication and to avoid engaging with suspicious or unknown calls on WhatsApp. It also urges users to report and block suspicious numbers.

Related News

Meta will auto-blur nudity in Instagram DMs in latest teen safety step

TechCrunch · 1y ago

Meta will auto-blur nudity in Instagram DMs in latest teen safety step

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is testing new features on the platform to protect young users from unwanted nudity and sextortion scams. One of the features is "Nudity Protection in DMs," which automatically blurs images containing nudity. Additionally, Instagram will prompt teens to think twice before sharing intimate images, aiming to reduce incidents of scammers tricking users into sharing their own images. The company is also implementing technology to identify accounts potentially involved in sextortion scams and limiting their interactions with other users. Meta is collaborating with Lantern, an online child safety program, to share more data on sextortion-specific signals.

Amazon, Microsoft team up to protect users from impersonation scams in India

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

Amazon, Microsoft team up to protect users from impersonation scams in India

Amazon and Microsoft have joined forces to protect users in India from impersonation scams. The two tech giants are working together to educate users about these scams and provide guidance on how to recognize and avoid them. This collaboration aims to create a safer online environment for Indian users and reduce the risk of falling victim to impersonation scams.

WhatsApp tops cyber scam charts: Over 43,000 complaints in 2024’s first quarter, report | Mint

Livemint

Livemint · 6m ago

WhatsApp tops cyber scam charts: Over 43,000 complaints in 2024’s first quarter, report | Mint

WhatsApp, a platform owned by Meta, has been highlighted as a significant medium for online scams, alongside Telegram and Instagram, as per the Union Home Ministry report. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, there were 43,797 complaints against WhatsApp, 22,680 against Telegram, and 19,800 against Instagram for cyber fraud. The report emphasizes the role of Google's services, including its ad platform, in facilitating scams, particularly targeting vulnerable groups through investment frauds like the "Pig Butchering Scam."

FTC seeks to modify rule to combat deepfakes

TechCrunch · 1y ago

FTC seeks to modify rule to combat deepfakes

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing to modify existing rules to combat deepfakes, specifically those used for impersonation. The revised rule would make it illegal for any GenAI platform to provide services or goods that could be used for harming consumers through impersonation. The FTC's aim is to protect Americans from AI-enabled scams and strengthen their ability to address impersonator fraud. Deepfakes have been on the rise, causing concerns about the spread of misleading information and online scams. Currently, no federal law specifically targets deepfakes, but some states have enacted laws criminalizing them, mainly in cases of non-consensual pornography.

Upstox Cautions Investors of Impersonation Scams

Inc42 · 1y ago

Upstox Cautions Investors of Impersonation Scams

Upstox has recently issued a warning to investors about the rising number of impersonation scams using fake social media accounts, apps, and websites. These scams often target customers from Tier II and III cities. In response, the company has launched an awareness campaign to educate its 1.4 crore customers about the risks involved and how to avoid falling victim to such scams. This alert comes in the midst of SEBI's efforts to tighten regulations on unregistered financial influencers and introduce new market measures.

Quick Heal eyes small firms, individuals with its AI-powered anti-fraud tool

Livemint

Livemint · 9m ago

Quick Heal eyes small firms, individuals with its AI-powered anti-fraud tool

- Quick Heal Technologies aims to make small businesses and individuals the largest category of users for Antifraud.ai, its AI-powered anti-fraud tool. - The software has seen a higher than expected uptake in the pre-launch and launch days, indicating the market need for such products in combating sophisticated digital fraud. - Fraudsters use social engineering and automation to carry out fraud, necessitating technological solutions to fight against it. - Antifraud.ai protects users from phishing link scams, alerts potential fraud calls, detects fake apps, and alerts against unauthorized use of microphones and cameras. - Quick Heal has adhered to regulations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and has filed patents for the technology.

Government asks Meta to combat WhatsApp scams after TRAI's appeal

Livemint

Livemint · 7m ago

Government asks Meta to combat WhatsApp scams after TRAI's appeal

The Indian government has approached Meta (formerly Facebook) to address the increasing number of scams taking place on WhatsApp. This action follows the rise in cyberfrauds in the country and concerns raised by Prime Minister Modi regarding digital arrests during a recent episode of Mann ki Baat. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) secretary, S Krishnan, confirmed the ongoing discussions with Meta on tackling these scams, highlighting the need for companies to have a grievance officer to address user issues. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also requested the government to investigate the growing scams on WhatsApp.

DoT, WhatsApp collaborate for awareness campaign against online scam, spam

YourStory

YourStory · 4m ago

DoT, WhatsApp collaborate for awareness campaign against online scam, spam

The Department of Telecom (DoT) and WhatsApp have partnered to launch a safety campaign against online scams and spam. This collaboration aims to educate citizens on identifying and reporting fraudulent communications, enhancing digital safety. The campaign, "Scam Se Bacho," builds on Meta's ongoing efforts, focusing on cybercrime and financial fraud prevention through user education and digital intelligence sharing. Efforts include developing informative materials translated into regional languages and exploring citizen-centric services.

These dangerous scammers don’t even bother to hide their crimes

Arstechnica

Arstechnica · 1y ago

These dangerous scammers don’t even bother to hide their crimes

The Yahoo Boys, a collective of scammers from West Africa, are openly operating on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, while sharing fraudulent activities and methods. They openly distribute scripts and advertise fake social media accounts, including those used for blackmail and sextortion scams. The scammers also utilize AI to create fake nude images and real-time deepfake video calls. While some accounts have been removed, many remain active on social media platforms, allowing the scammers to conduct their activities with minimal consequences.

Meta turns to AI to protect minors from 'sextortion' on Instagram

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

Meta turns to AI to protect minors from 'sextortion' on Instagram

Meta is developing new tools on Instagram to protect teenage users from sextortion scams. The company is testing an AI-driven nudity protection tool that will identify and blur explicit images sent to minors on the messaging system. This aims to prevent young users from being exposed to unwanted intimate content. Meta will also offer advice and safety tips for those sending or receiving such messages. The move comes amid accusations that the platform is damaging the mental health of youngsters, with more than 40 US states suing Meta for profiting from children's pain.

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