Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

The internet has revolutionised our lives, offering convenience and connectivity at our fingertips. With the rapid adoption of digital payments in India, fraudsters have evolved their tactics, devising new scams to exploit the growing user base. Several <keyword id="20182215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-scams" source="keywords">online scams</keyword> have been reported in India over the past few months, from the standard UPI refund scams to unbelievable scams such as the digital arrest scams. Here's a look at some prevalent online scams and how to protect yourself: <h2><keyword id="23629952" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI-refund-scam" source="keywords">UPI refund scam</keyword></h2>UPI refund scam is one of the most common online scams these days. It involves a person sending the victim money and then claiming that it was accidentally sent. The scammer then asks the victim to refund the money, often using excuses such as emergency hospitalisations or other important expenses. If the victim refunds the money, the scammer then contacts their bank and reverses the initial transaction, resulting in the victim losing money. How to protect yourself from UPI refund scams: <ul><li>Do not resend the money if someone claims they have “accidentally” sent you money.</li><li>If you receive money from an unknown source, contact your bank immediately.</li><li>If someone says they have sent you money, ask them to contact their bank to get a refund.</li></ul><h2><keyword id="19939895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phishing-scams" source="keywords">Phishing scams</keyword></h2>Phishing scams have been around for a long time, but they have become more sophisticated in the digital age. Fraudsters often impersonate reputable companies, sending fake emails, messages, or even websites that look almost identical to the real ones. These messages typically contain a sense of urgency—such as a warning that your account is about to be blocked or that you've won a prize. Once you click on the link, you’re directed to a fake site that prompts you to enter your personal information, including login credentials and payment details. This data is then used to steal money or compromise your identity. How to protect yourself from phishing scams: <ul><li>Be sceptical of unexpected messages or emails, even if they seem to come from trusted sources.</li><li>Check the URLs of websites carefully. Scammers often use misspelt URLs that are designed to look legitimate.</li><li>Never share your personal or financial information without verifying the authenticity of the request.</li></ul><h2><keyword id="23629953" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SIM-swap-scam" source="keywords">SIM Swap scam</keyword></h2>As the name suggests, a SIM swap scam basically involves the scammer getting access to your SIM, either with the help of someone at the mobile service provider or through other means. The scammer often convinces the network provider to activate a SIM card they possess, gaining control of the victim’s phone number. This allows the scammer to gain access to all calls and text messages that the victim may receive, which is important in this day and age where all accounts are linked to your phone number. Once the scammer gets access to the victim’s phone number, they use it to gain access to their bank account and steal money. How to protect yourself from SIM swap scam: <ul><li>If your SIM stops working, immediately inform the telecom operator.</li><li>Make use of a SIM lock, which prevents your SIM from being used on another smartphone without entering a password.</li><li>Avoid sharing personal information online, especially things which can make it easier to crack your passwords.</li><li>Keep track of your accounts and report any unauthorised transactions.</li></ul><h2><keyword id="20415709" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-shopping-scams" source="keywords">Online Shopping Scams</keyword></h2>Beware of fake online stores offering unbelievable deals. These websites might steal your payment information or deliver counterfeit or non-existent products. These websites often advertise unbelievable deals to lure in unsuspecting customers, either with the intention of stealing their data or selling substandard products. How to stay safe: <ul><li>Shop from reputable websites. Look for customer reviews and secure payment gateways.</li><li>Be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true.</li><li>Use a credit card for online purchases. It offers better fraud protection than a debit card.</li></ul><h2>The "Digital Arrest" scam</h2>In this chilling scam, fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials. They may claim you're involved in illegal activities and threaten you with a "digital arrest" or legal action. To avoid this, they'll demand payment or personal information. Victims are often coerced into making payments via UPI or other digital means. The sense of urgency and fear of legal consequences often compels people to act without verifying the legitimacy of the claim. How to avoid: <ul><li>Know your rights: Law enforcement agencies will never demand payment or personal information over the phone or online. </li><li>Verify identities: If you receive such a call, hang up and directly contact the relevant authorities to verify the claim.</li></ul><h2><keyword id="23629954" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="KYC-scam" source="keywords">KYC scam</keyword></h2>With the increased demand for KYC (know your customer) updates across digital platforms, fraudsters are taking advantage by posing as bank or telecom representatives. They often claim that your account will be blocked if you don’t update your KYC details immediately. Victims are then asked to share their Aadhaar number, PAN, or other personal details via a fraudulent link or over a call. In some cases, they also ask users to complete the process through UPI apps, stealing money from their accounts during the process. How to avoid it: <ul><li>Banks and financial institutions never ask for personal details over a call, message, or link.</li><li>Always update KYC details through official channels, like the bank’s app or website.</li><li>If you receive a suspicious KYC request, report it to your bank’s customer service immediately.</li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-to-afcons-infrastructure-ipos-to-look-out-for-this-week/articleshow/114421377.cms">Waaree Energies to Afcons Infrastructure, IPOs to look out for this week</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping-in-india/articleshow/114354358.cms">Best credit cards for online shopping this festive season</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/bigger-they-are-harder-they-fall-a-look-at-how-the-countrys-biggest-ipos-have-fared/articleshow/114307997.cms">Bigger they are, harder they fall – A look at how the country’s biggest IPOs have fared</a>

UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of

In a bid to bolster the safety and security of <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> and enhance regulatory frameworks, the Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) unveiled a series of proposals aimed at fostering innovation, inclusivity, and efficiency in the financial ecosystem. These initiatives, announced by RBI Governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, signify the central bank's commitment to fortifying India's digital infrastructure and promoting a conducive environment for financial transactions. One of the key announcements made by Governor Das pertained to the establishment of a Digital Payments <keyword id="21971766" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="intelligence-platform" source="keywords">Intelligence Platform</keyword>. This platform, leveraging advanced technologies, aims to mitigate payment <keyword id="19898489" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fraud" source="keywords">fraud</keyword> risks and enhance the safety of digital transactions. According to the annual report released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 30, there was a significant surge in the number of financial frauds reported by banks, increasing by 166 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24 to reach 36,075 cases. This figure starkly contrasts with the 13,564 cases reported in the previous fiscal year, FY23. Despite the notable rise in the number of fraud cases, there was a substantial decrease in the total amount involved in these incidents. The amount of money associated with total bank frauds plummeted by 46.7 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24, totaling Rs 13,930 crore. In comparison, the amount recorded in FY23 stood at Rs 26,127 crore. RBI has proposed a revision of the limit of bulk deposits for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Small Finance Banks (SFBs). This move, aimed at enhancing flexibility and aligning with evolving market dynamics, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for the banking sector. Currently, banks have the discretion to offer differential rates of interest on bulk deposits based on their requirements and Asset-Liability Management (ALM) projections. The existing bulk deposit limit for SCBs (excluding Regional Rural Banks) and SFBs, set at 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 2 crore and above,' was established in 2019. However, following a comprehensive review, the RBI has proposed to revise this definition to 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 3 crore and above' for SCBs and SFBs. In addition to the proposed revision for SCBs and SFBs, the RBI has also suggested defining the bulk deposit limit for Local Area Banks (LABs) as 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 1 crore and above,' mirroring the criteria applicable to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). RBI has also unveiled plans to rationalize export and import regulations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. This initiative, driven by the imperative of progressive liberalization and operational flexibility, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for international trade and investment. By eliminating redundancies, enhancing clarity, and reducing procedural complexities, the RBI aims to promote ease of doing business for all stakeholders involved in cross-border trade. The RBI aims to streamline and simplify operational procedures related to export and import transactions, thereby reducing administrative burdens and enhancing efficiency for businesses and authorized dealer banks. By aligning regulations with international best practices and market realities, the RBI seeks to create a business-friendly environment conducive to fostering trade and investment growth. Simplified regulations will facilitate smoother trade transactions, encouraging businesses to explore new markets and expand their global footprint. While promoting ease of doing business, the RBI remains committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and safeguarding the integrity of the financial system. The proposed rationalization will uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and risk management in cross-border transactions. As part of the process, the RBI plans to publish draft regulations and directions on its official website by the end of June 2024. In a bid to enhance the convenience and efficiency of digital payments, RBI has unveiled plans to expand the e-mandate framework to include recurring payments for Fastag, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and similar services. This initiative, aimed at modernizing payment systems and promoting financial inclusion, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering innovation and leveraging technology to meet evolving consumer needs. The current UPI Lite service permits customers to load their UPI Lite wallets with up to Rs 2000/- and conduct transactions of up to Rs 500 from the wallet. To enhance the seamless usage of UPI Lite for customers, and in response to feedback from various stakeholders, it is suggested to integrate UPI Lite into the e-mandate framework. This integration would introduce an auto-replenishment feature for UPI Lite wallets, automatically refilling the wallet balance when it falls below a predetermined threshold set by the customer. Since the funds remain under the customer's control (transferring from their account to the wallet), it is proposed to eliminate the need for additional authentication or pre-debit notifications. Relevant guidelines pertaining to this proposal will be issued shortly. RBI has embarked on a mission to foster innovation and transformation in the financial sector with the launch of its third edition of the global hackathon, "HARBINGER 2024 - Innovation for Transformation." It would feature two primary themes: 'Zero Financial Frauds' and 'Being Divyang Friendly.' Solutions aimed at bolstering the safety and security of digital transactions, with a specific emphasis on identifying, preventing, and combating financial frauds, will be solicited. Additionally, there will be a focus on fostering inclusivity for individuals with physical disabilities. Further details regarding the hackathon will be unveiled shortly. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-smartwatch-shipments-remain-flat-in-q1-2024-the-year-expected-to-end-in-a-decline/articleshow/110789121.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-smartwatch-shipments-remain-flat-in-q1-2024-the-year-expected-to-end-in-a-decline/articleshow/110789121.cms" target="_blank">Indian smartwatch shipments remain flat in Q1 2024, the year expected to end in a decline</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/computex-2024-intel-debuts-lunar-lake-chips-with-focus-on-microsofts-ai-ambitions-for-pcs/articleshow/110745670.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/computex-2024-intel-debuts-lunar-lake-chips-with-focus-on-microsofts-ai-ambitions-for-pcs/articleshow/110745670.cms" target="_blank">Computex 2024: Intel Debuts Lunar Lake Chips With Focus On Microsoft’s AI Ambitions For PCs</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/may-auto-sales-tata-motors-and-hyundai-continue-to-fight-for-the-second-spot-as-car-sales-grow-by-4/articleshow/110649713.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/may-auto-sales-tata-motors-and-hyundai-continue-to-fight-for-the-second-spot-as-car-sales-grow-by-4/articleshow/110649713.cms" target="_blank">May Auto Sales – Tata Motors and Hyundai continue to fight for the second spot as car sales grow by 4%</a>

RBI announces digital payments intelligence platform to check online frauds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-residents-moving-leaving-climate-change-refugees-hurricanes-flood-2023-2">climate crisis</a> is an often-hidden financial risk when buying a house.</li><li>A few online tools can help you assess that risk and possible costs by address.</li></ul>If you're <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-man-refused-leave-hurricane-proof-home-basically-unharmed-milton-2024-10">shopping for a house</a>, you're probably thinking ahead and planning for your future.Here's the thing, though: By the end of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgages/will-mortgage-rates-go-down-this-year">30-year mortgage</a>, you'll be living on a pretty different planet.Even if companies and governments across the world make some drastic changes — and that's a big "if" — humanity's carbon emissions have already locked in some additional warming for decades to come. That means more intense and sometimes more frequent floods, wildfires, hurricanes, winter storms, and other forms of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-outlook-analysis-prices-rising-extreme-weather-risk-jpmorgan-2024-2">extreme weather</a>.You and your house could suffer everything from headaches and declining <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-higher-home-prices-climate-change-air-quality-impact-2024-2">property value</a> to giant bills and life-threatening events.That's why it's important to take stock of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-housing-market-prediction-sun-belt-climate-change-zelman-2024-7">climate risks your home faces</a> in the coming decades.It's impossible to know exactly what will happen, but a few <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tool-determines-home-climate-risk-heat-wind-bad-air-2024-3">online tools</a> can give you an idea of the risks — as well as the costs you could incur and what you can do about it — depending on which house you buy.<h2 id="f72716a3-6428-4f34-94f8-2f3ebf4d7693">Learn about the possible damages</h2>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zillow-gone-wild-weird-unique-houses-homes-hot-homebuying-selling-2024-7">most popular real-estate website</a> in the US, Zillow, has a new feature to peer into the potential climate future of each listing. The new "climate risks" tool shows <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/map-shows-united-states-extreme-heat-belt-study-2022-8">how many days of extreme heat</a> and unhealthy air quality a property is expected to see over the next 30 years, assuming humanity is on track to stabilize climate change by 2100. The tool also shows the likelihood of more destructive events: floods, wildfires, and windstorms.<div type="image" title="group of people watch wildfire burning home in the hills with palm trees" height="1771" width="2500" msid="114374425" hostid="261" sizebytes="281278"></div>These assessments come from First Street, a former nonprofit that became a for-profit company this year, which uses computer models to quantify certain weather and climate risks for individual properties. First Street says it incorporates a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/maui-wildfires-lahaina-wooden-house-spared-among-rubble-2023-8">building's specific structural characteristics</a>, as well as local infrastructure like roads and utilities."If you don't take stock of the climate risk specifically, you could be in over your head," Jeremy Porter, the head of climate implications research at First Street, told Business Insider.For example, if the cost of flood or wildfire insurance spikes as it already has in places like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/homeowners-california-florida-insurance-issues-natural-disasters-wildfires-hurricanes-2023-10">Florida and California</a>, "all of a sudden your household budget doesn't make any sense for the property that you ended up buying," he said.The new Zillow tool also makes recommendations about insurance based on First Street's analysis.To dive even deeper, you can go to First Street's website and get a free trial of its paid service, which shows ballpark estimates of how much a flood or fire could cost you, expected cooling costs, and projections of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-insurance-hurricanes-extreme-weather-relocate-to-ocala-2023-10">insurance prices</a>. You can also toggle certain renovations to see how they impact those costs.<h2 id="0eef8ad3-480e-4072-aadf-cb64222742c5">Remember those estimates aren't a crystal ball</h2>Climate-science experts outside the company have some reservations about First Street's flood and wildfire estimates, though.Michael Wara, a senior research scholar at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://heatmap.news/guides/zillow-climate-risk-flooding-fire">Heatmap News</a> to take First Street's calculations with "a lot of grains of salt."Heatmap reported that First Street probably underestimates <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-wildfire-burns-multimillion-dollar-homes-in-california-orange-county-2022-5">wildfire risk</a> in wildfire-prone areas and that flood risk is very difficult to accurately model. You can try to cross-check flood risk with other sources like seeing if the town or city has flood maps available."Everything that we're offering are probabilistic risk estimates," Porter said."I think that just in general, the models give you a pretty good indication of which properties are riskier than other properties," he added.<h2 id="ea2c710b-3a7a-45fe-b58f-971596d4b019">Then check local building codes…</h2>Once you know the climate risks, you can assess <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-why-some-homes-survive-hurricanes-lessons-homeowners-2024-10">how well a property is built</a> to withstand them.<div type="image" title="slumping one-story grey and wood panel house with panels ripped away next to a standing yellow house" height="1500" width="2249" msid="114374424" hostid="261" sizebytes="407800"></div>A good indicator of that is the local building code and whether the house is built to its standards. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes has a tool for checking that at <a target="_blank" href="http://inspecttoprotect.org">inspecttoprotect.org</a>.Not only does FLASH rate the local building code, but the tool also shows information about the area's past <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-how-profit-natural-disasters-hurricanes-wildfires-storms-investors-2023-8">natural disasters</a> and suggests upgrades.<h2 id="03112be6-cab7-49c5-9eed-55cc34037179">... and consider renovations</h2>In the FLASH tool, you can select the year a house was built to see what <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiny-home-renovation-old-abandoned-cottage-scotland-before-after-photos-2022-7">renovations</a> would strengthen it against different natural disasters. Each upgrade has a cost and impact rating.Taking matters into your own hands could make a big difference because, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science/bcat#:~:text=FEMA%20tracks%20the%20building%20code,simply%20by%20its%20acronym%2C%20BCAT.">according</a> to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, only about one-third of US jurisdictions have adopted up-to-date codes to match their natural hazards.Even then, building codes are often designed to protect the lives of people inside the house, but not necessarily to prevent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-homeowner-milton-tearing-through-neighborhood-cant-sleep-2024-10">expensive property damage</a>."You got to at least have a good building code, but that's a starting point. It's not your gold standard, it's your minimum," Leslie Chapman-Henderson, FLASH's president and CEO, told BI.In some cases, renovations and upgrades can even help lower your insurance costs.

Before buying a home, check this hidden financial risk

Online scams in India have been on the rise for the last few months and every now and then, a new case surfaces where a victim loses their hard-earned money. Usually, scammers in many cases pose as company officials to steal your sensitive information and misuse it. In one such recent incident, a 44-year-old woman from <keyword id="19895934" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="noida" source="keywords">Noida</keyword> recently fell victim to an <keyword id="20971199" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="esim-scam" source="Orion">eSIM scam</keyword>, losing ₹27 lakh and becoming the target of fraudulent loan activity. The scam involved the manipulation of her <keyword id="19909735" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sim" source="keywords">SIM</keyword> card and banking details, which allowed the fraudster to siphon off her funds and take out a loan in her name. <h2>What exactly happened</h2> According to an HT report, <keyword id="23110017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jyotsana-bhatia" source="keywords">Jyotsana Bhatia</keyword>, a resident of Sector 82 in Noida, works at a private company and filed a complaint with the cybercrime police station in Sector 36. On August 31, Bhatia received a WhatsApp call from a person posing as a customer care executive from her telecom provider. The caller explained that her SIM card could be converted to an embedded SIM (eSIM), which is a digital version of a physical SIM card and can be helpful in case of phone loss. The suspect offered to help Bhatia activate the eSIM feature, instructing her to select the option in her mobile carrier’s application and enter a verification code that was sent to her phone. Bhatia, unaware of the fraud, followed the steps as instructed. Unfortunately, as soon as she entered the code, her physical SIM card was deactivated. The suspect assured her that a new SIM card would be delivered by September 1, leaving her temporarily without access to her mobile number. When the promised SIM card failed to arrive, Bhatia contacted the telecom provider’s customer care service and was advised to visit the service centre to get a replacement. After three days, on September 3, she was issued a new SIM card. However, by then, the damage had already been done. Bhatia started receiving messages from her bank, revealing that the fraudster had accessed her mobile banking account using her deactivated phone number. By changing the associated email ID, the suspect was able to bypass security checks and transfer large sums of money from her accounts. The fraudster also broke her fixed deposit, siphoned money from two bank accounts, and even took out a loan of ₹7.40 lakh in her name. Bhatia reported that the total amount stolen in multiple transactions amounted to ₹27 lakh. Shocked by the breach, she immediately filed an FIR with the cybercrime unit. The police registered the case under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as under relevant sections of the IT Act. Efforts to track down the suspect are currently underway. <h2>Understanding eSIM and its risks </h2> An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital version of a SIM card that is built into a device and does not require a physical card. While this technology is convenient and allows users to switch networks or plans without handling a physical card, it also opens the door to new forms of fraud. Scammers can manipulate eSIM features to deactivate a user’s existing SIM card and take control of their phone number, which is linked to various accounts and services. In this case, the fraudster exploited the victim’s trust by posing as a telecom customer care executive, taking advantage of her lack of knowledge about the risks associated with eSIM activation. Once the fraudster gained control of her phone number, they accessed her bank accounts through mobile banking applications that rely on the phone number for authentication. By changing the email ID linked to her account, they prevented the victim from receiving security alerts and were able to make unauthorised transactions without her knowledge.

Noida woman tries getting her sim card converted into e-sim, ends up losing Rs 27 lakh

<ul><li>The government has warned about a new way <keyword id="19962622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scammers" source="keywords">scammers</keyword> are trying to obtain <keyword id="20189059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-information" source="keywords">personal information</keyword>.</li><li>Users have reportedly received an SMS asking them to update their PAN to unblock their <keyword id="20417750" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bank-account" source="keywords">bank account</keyword>.</li><li>Here's everything you need to know about the <keyword id="22918614" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="fake-PAN-SMS" source="keywords">fake PAN SMS</keyword> and how to stay safe.</li></ul>Increased usage of the internet has also resulted in an increase in <keyword id="20025584" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-fraud" source="keywords">online fraud</keyword>. Scammers are finding new ways to fool people and steal from them. A new method has now been revealed, which preys on users with an account in <keyword id="19985316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Post-Payments-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="India Post Payments Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="India Post Payments Bank">India Post Payments Bank</keyword>. According to a post by PIB Fact Check, several users have received an SMS which claims to be from India Post Payments Bank. However, the message is fake and is an attempt to steal user data. “This claim is #Fake. @IndiaPostOffice never sends any such messages. Never share your personal &amp; bank details with anyone,” PIB Fact Check said in its post on X. <div type="twitter" handle="PIBFactCheck" handlename="PIBFactCheck" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1825494609881170290"></div> <h2>What is the fake PAN SMS?</h2> In the SMS, the user is warned that their India Post Payments Bank account has been blocked. It then asks the users to update their PAN to get their account unblocked. The user is then given a link, asking them to click on the link to update their PAN. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111512587" title="Jio vs Airtel vs Vi recharge plans comparison – plan benefits and price comparison after tariff hike" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The link then redirects the user to a <keyword id="20182216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phishing" source="keywords">phishing</keyword> page, aimed at stealing user data such as their bank account login details to gain access to their account. Once you enter your bank account login details, they will be sent to the scammer. <h2>What is phishing?</h2>Phishing is a cyber-attack where attackers impersonate legitimate organisations or individuals to trick people into revealing sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. This is usually done through deceptive emails, messages, or fake websites. <h2>How to stay safe from phishing attacks?</h2>Here are some ways you can identify phishing attacks and stay safe: <ul><li>Verify the sender: Check the sender’s email address or phone number carefully. Phishers often use addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but have small differences.</li><li>Look for red flags: Be wary of unexpected messages, especially those requesting sensitive information or containing urgent or threatening language.</li><li>Verify before opening: Only open attachments from trusted sources. Phishing emails often contain malware disguised as legitimate files.</li><li>Add two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts. This adds an additional layer of security even if your password is compromised.</li><li>Contact directly: If you receive a request for sensitive information, verify the request by contacting the organisation directly through known and trusted channels.</li><li>Report phishing attempts: Report phishing emails to your email provider or the relevant authorities. This helps in tracking and stopping phishing schemes.</li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/how-to/how-to-add-music-to-instagram-profile/articleshow/112732934.cms">You can now add music to your Instagram profile – here's how</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/2024-tvs-jupiter-vs-honda-activa-6g-which-110cc-scooter-should-you-buy/slidelist/112730069.cms">2024 TVS Jupiter vs Honda Activa 6G – which 110cc scooter should you buy?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-z9s-pro-vs-moto-edge-50-fusion-which-is-the-best-smartphone-under-25000/slidelist/112703633.cms">iQOO Z9s Pro vs Moto Edge 50 Fusion – which is the best smartphone under ₹25,000?</a>

Govt warns about fake SMS asking users to update their PAN – what it is and how to stay safe

New Delhi: 78 per cent of consumers now prefer to do most of their banking digitally through <keyword id="19915384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-apps" source="keywords">mobile apps</keyword> or websites, according to the Alkami report. This shift is part of a broader trend towards <keyword id="21227659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cashless-transactions" source="keywords">cashless transactions</keyword> and <keyword id="21012835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="contactless-payments" source="keywords">contactless payments</keyword>, which have become the default for many, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, nearly 80 per cent of financial institutions have seen an increase in cashless transactions over the past two years. This change has been accelerated by the pandemic, with many consumers opting for digital payments to avoid handling cash. About 60 per cent of these institutions noted that the volume of cashless transactions has surged by more than 20 per cent. Cashless payments aren't a new concept--personal checks and credit cards have been around for decades. However, today's digital payments, whether made through a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, are quickly becoming the standard. The convenience and safety of these transactions, especially in a post-pandemic world, have made them more popular than ever. Allison Cerra, Chief Marketing Officer at Alkami Technology, said, "The banking leaders of the future will be those that can harness data for the best use, gain a holistic view of their relationships, and meet the rapidly changing needs of digital consumers." With more people turning to <keyword id="20028215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-banking" source="keywords">digital banking</keyword>, there's been a noticeable decline in the use of ATMs and checks. Chad Rogers, Executive Vice President at Connexus Credit Union, noted that even millennials are moving away from traditional banking methods. "What we're seeing, even with our millennial users, is that they're no longer ordering checks, or making cash withdrawals from our ATMs as we would expect. Instead, they are self-serving from home or wherever they are. They're moving money through our digital banking platform," he said. Interestingly, even though fewer people are visiting bank branches in person, their overall engagement with banks has increased. Thanks to the ease of mobile and <keyword id="19998466" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-banking" source="keywords">online banking</keyword>, customers are now interacting with their banks more frequently, often on a daily basis. While cashless transactions are on the rise, the adoption of cryptocurrency is growing more slowly. Around 21 per cent of financial institutions reported that their customers are asking for Bitcoin products and services. Although this is still a relatively small percentage, 35 per cent of banks believe that offering cryptocurrency options could give them a competitive edge. Banks are also feeling the heat from fintech companies like PayPal, Stripe, and Venmo. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has called these fintechs "enormous competitive threats" to traditional banking. The popularity of fintechs has only increased during the pandemic, with many consumers turning to these platforms for their financial needs. Despite the competition, some banks are partnering with fintechs to stay relevant. According to the report, 50 per cent of banks and 40 per cent of credit unions have teamed up with fintech companies in the past three years to enhance their digital offerings. Looking ahead, many experts believe that the future of banking will revolve around personalised experiences. However, only about a quarter of financial institutions are currently using hyperpersonalization to gain a competitive advantage. There's a growing opportunity for banks to leverage personalised recommendations and offers to better serve their customers. Data is also playing a crucial role in this digital transformation. Most banks are now using data analysis to improve customer experiences, guide decision-making, and reduce development time and costs. By unlocking the potential of customer data, banks can better anticipate their clients' needs and offer tailored solutions. Allison Cerra Chief Marketing Officer at Alkami Technology, said, "We are now at a place where technology has democratised financial advice and counsel. It is no longer just the privileged upper class who can afford to get financially fit and prepare for the future."

78 pc of consumers choose digital banking over cash transactions

Many people around the world invest their hard-earned money in order to increase its value. Investments can be carried out through various channels and online investments are quite popular as they are a convenient way to earn some extra cash. However, the world of online investments is full of <keyword id="19962622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scammers" source="keywords">scammers</keyword> as well who constantly look out for unsuspecting victims. In many cases, these scammers pose as financial advisors and lure people in their trap. They might even let the victim earn some money to prove their authenticity. Once the victim begins trusting them, the fraudsters show their true colourrs. Something similar happened with a man from Hyderabad, who fell victim to a <keyword id="19901142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-fraud" source="keywords">cyber fraud</keyword>, losing Rs 8.17 lakh in a deceptive <keyword id="22852878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-trading-scheme" source="keywords">online trading scheme</keyword>. The incident highlights the growing menace of <keyword id="19971937" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybercrime" source="keywords">cybercrime</keyword>, especially in the form of <keyword id="21250548" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="investment-scams" source="keywords">investment scams</keyword> that prey on unsuspecting individuals seeking quick profits. <h2>How the scam unfolded</h2>As per a report in New Indian Express, the 40-year-old man was initially contacted through random calls, including messages on Telegram, where he was lured into joining a group that claimed to offer profitable trading opportunities. The scammers added him to social media groups where they showcased the supposed success stories of others who had invested and made significant profits. Encouraged by these (false) success stories, the victim began by investing a small amount of money. To his surprise, he quickly received returns on his initial investment, which further convinced him of the scheme’s legitimacy. This early success was part of the scammers' strategy to build trust and encourage the victim to invest larger amounts. As the victim's confidence grew, he decided to invest more money, even going as far as taking bank loans and borrowing from friends to increase his trading capital. The scammers, posing as experienced traders, provided him with tips and advice, which seemed to be leading to profitable trades. However, as time passed, the victim started noticing irregularities. Despite his trades showing profits, the system would automatically close them, resulting in losses. When he questioned this, the scammers blamed the system’s automated processes and reassured him that his losses could be recovered by investing more. The situation reached a tipping point when the victim was unable to withdraw any funds from the trading app. Growing increasingly concerned, he approached a friend for a loan, explaining his predicament. It was this friend who first alerted him to the possibility that he was being scammed. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the victim immediately filed an online complaint with the cybercrime police. <keyword id="22852879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyderabad-Cyber-Crimes-police" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police">Hyderabad Cyber Crimes police</keyword> have registered a case and are currently investigating the matter. According to an official statement, the scammers had manipulated the trading app from the backend, deliberately causing the victim’s trades to close in losses even when they were in profit. The fraudsters continued to pressure the victim to transfer more funds, promising that he could recover his losses by making additional investments. <h2>How to protect yourself from such scams</h2>This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online investment schemes, particularly those that promise quick and easy profits. Cybercriminals often use sophisticated tactics to build trust with their victims, only to deceive them into losing substantial amounts of money. Thus, if you receive random calls or messages offering investment opportunities, approach them with caution. Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to convince you to invest quickly. If you do decide to invest, before going ahead, research the platform or group thoroughly. Check for reviews, and verify if the platform is registered with relevant financial authorities. In addition to this, be cautious about sharing your financial details or personal information with unknown parties, especially through unsecured communication channels. Also, if you are considering a new investment opportunity, seek advice from trusted friends, family members, or financial advisors. A second opinion can help you avoid making hasty decisions based on false promises.

Hyderabad man uses online trading app to try and earn some extra money, loses Rs 8 lakh

Paul got his first bottle of pills from Hims in May. He said he didn't really need the generic Viagra, but after a friend bragged that he'd been using it for years to "go multiple rounds," Paul figured he'd give it a shot. So he signed in to Hims and found that the process of getting it from the direct-to-consumer telehealth company was almost disturbingly easy. Paul, who's in his early 40s, answered some multiple-choice questions online, a doctor supposedly reviewed his responses, and then a bottle of pills showed up in the mail a couple of days later.He's used the drug twice, though it doesn't really work how he thought it would. Nobody had explained what to expect, which probably wouldn't be the case in a regular healthcare setting. When I asked Paul (a pseudonym) why he didn't just go to his regular doctor for the issue, his answer was succinct: "Speed, convenience, positive my doctor would say no." His primary-care provider had mentioned a while back that he thought Viagra was overprescribed.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/booming-direct-consumer-healthcare-business-2018-10">direct-to-consumer health industry</a> has exploded in recent years. The pandemic accelerated the rise of telehealth, which these DTC companies are a part of both culturally and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dea-proposed-rules-controlled-substances-buprenorphine-startups-2023-3">legally</a>. Grand View Research estimates that the global telehealth market was worth $101.2 billion in 2023 and that it's growing rapidly. Multiple startups have popped up to capitalize on this growth, with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-investment-firms-vcs-making-most-telehealth-investments-2021-7">venture capital and investor dollars flowing in</a>. Hims &amp; Hers Health has a market cap of over $4 billion. Ro, one of the other main players in the industry, has raised over $1 billion and has a valuation of $6.6 billion, according to PitchBook.These companies sell a wide array of products to help with everything from weight loss to mental health. Much of their business proposition, however, is targeted specifically at young men and, more specifically, at their insecurities. Are you worried about your hairline? Your fertility? What about getting an erection? Are you scared to talk to a doctor face-to-face about any of this? Well, Hims promises you can "skip the awkward doctor visits" and offers "ED meds from your couch." A "healthy, handsome you" is only a click away."These platforms are basically set up to minimize the distance from advertising and hooking the consumer to getting a prescription in their hand," said Matthew McCoy, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. "The advantage of that is efficiency — people, understandably, don't have a lot of time always to spend on these sorts of things. The downside of that is risks that you're not making fully informed decisions or that the kind of advice that you're getting is being colored by the company's financial incentives rather than a doctor's honest opinion of what's in your medical best interest."Those at the forefront of the DTC health revolution have American guys right where they want them: insecure, on edge, and ready to open their wallets.There are some variations in how these services work, but the gist is this: You go to a website (probably because you saw some ad for it), fill out a questionnaire about your condition, maybe chat with a doctor (though often you don't), and then voilà, a prescription is on its way to you in what's promised to be discreet packaging."It typically bypasses traditional healthcare settings, and often there's little to no involvement of a healthcare provider," said Ashwini Nagappan, a doctoral candidate at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health who has studied DTC medicine and ethics.There is some altruistic appeal: DTC medication services can help with access for people who live in remote areas or can't easily get to a doctor. But for many clients, and especially young men, the upside is that it's simply more convenient than a traditional appointment."In general, men are less likely to utilize healthcare when compared to women," said Joshua Halpern, the chief scientific officer at Posterity Health, a male-fertility clinic, and an adjunct assistant professor of urology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "And we know that many young men don't even have a primary-care physician to begin with, so the process of establishing care can be daunting, especially when it can take months to get an appointment."Even if they do have a relationship with a medical provider, it may not be the type where they feel comfortable bringing up sensitive or stigmatized issues. Research indicates that when it comes to seeking care for sexual-health concerns, privacy is a primary consideration for young men. A review of literature on DTC telemedicine and men notes that men who use DTC platforms <a target="_blank" href="https://wjmh.org/DOIx.php?id=10.5534/wjmh.230057">cite convenience</a> as an important motivation, as well as embarrassment and discretion. Financial factors, interestingly, aren't very much in play. A survey conducted in late 2019 and early 2020 found that men under 40 and in the middle-income range were <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36310185/">likelier to use</a> DTC telehealth services than older, wealthier men.While DTC services may help with timely access and do some work on destigmatizing certain issues, there are substantial drawbacks. Men using these services might not get the comprehensive evaluation they need to uncover underlying conditions and address their overall health, Halpern said, and they may not be seeing a healthcare provider who is most appropriate for managing their condition."They can also end up paying more for care that would be more affordable elsewhere or even covered by their medical insurance," he said.His research suggests that some platforms may also be providing what's known as guideline-discordant care, meaning patients are getting unnecessary tests and inappropriate treatments, such as testosterone replacement for men who are trying to conceive, which can be detrimental in some cases. Plenty of doctors have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-worry-about-how-startup-hims-prescribes-viagra-online-2019-2">sounded the alarm about DTC telehealth companies</a>, and some firms have gotten into legal trouble, too. The Department of Justice has charged the leaders of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-adderall-targeted-advertising-opioid-crisis-cerebral-purdue-pharma-2023-7">ADHD-focused telehealth company Done</a> with fraud over its Adderall prescription practices and advertising.For all the issues with DTC companies, it's fair to note that traditional healthcare settings are far from perfect. Patients can lie to their doctors in person. Providers don't always have a full view of their patients' health or everything they're taking. Navigating insurance and appointments is a hassle. But handing out drugs in a faceless manner across the internet is markedly different from what has happened in healthcare historically, and it presents different risks. "When you're in person or you're doing telehealth through a more established healthcare entity, there is a little bit more collection of your medical history," Nagappan said.While DTC platforms say they serve a valuable purpose in getting young men to address medical needs they would otherwise ignore, the monetary factors involved are different from those at a regular physician's office."These companies are in the business of selling drugs," McCoy said. "A medical provider ideally is in the business of providing the best medical care, which sometimes involves writing prescriptions for drugs, but sometimes involves alternative modalities or nothing at all."One man who got generic Viagra through Hims told me he went through the platform to avoid the "8 million" questions his doctor would ask — and he knew he'd probably be approved. "I mean, whenever you deal with these drug companies that are trying to do direct-to-consumer, you've got to know that their doctors are just checking a box," he said. "They're not going to give you too much crap. If you have a pulse, they're going to give you a prescription." (He was also concerned about privacy, but he said the packaging wasn't as discreet as he'd hoped — "Hims" was on the shipping label, and he knows his mail guy.)These companies make money if you buy something, and it's even better if you set up a recurring subscription, so advertising that leans into young men's fears can be especially fruitful."You might say that makes them a target for high-pressure, potentially even manipulative marketing in a way that we should worry about," McCoy said.The dynamic is similar to pharmaceutical ads on TV for drugs like Ozempic or Cialis. Instead of getting advice from disinterested parties, like their doctors, people are getting messages from quite interested parties — pharmaceutical companies — hoping they show up at their next medical visit and make an ask.A spokesperson for Hims said in an email that a "core tenet" of the company is "to help people address issues that may be hard to talk about, but are important for feeling good and being healthy" and that its platform and customer experience is "is designed to help customers bypass the various hurdles that come with getting the care and accessing necessary treatments." When asked how doctors are compensated, they said it's a time-based model that takes into consideration time spent and "certain efficiency metrics," but it's not about prescriptions written. The spokesperson emphasized that "the health and well-being of our customers will always be our top priority" and confirmed that fees are only charged if someone receives treatment. A spokesperson for Ro said that it's a "misconception" that its patient base skews younger and that 87% are over 30. They said that providers' prescribing decisions do not impact their compensation and provided a link to their operating system.DTC telehealth can play a role in people getting treatment they may otherwise not seek, whether for alcoholism or depression or hair loss, and at the very least it can help people realize they're not so alone in whatever issue that's ailing them. While I was reporting for this story, a friend told me he got a hair-loss prescription from Hims after his barber mentioned his bald spot — to me, that seems fine.But it's hard not to recognize these companies' financial incentives and the ways they may distort care. They're prescribing all sorts of drugs constantly and not asking too many questions in the process. That young guy listening to a hair-loss ad on his favorite podcast isn't just a patient — he's a customer.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-stewart">Emily Stewart</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

Online health providers are preying on young men's worst fears

<ul class="summary-list"><li>If you want live — or close to live — fact-checking during Tuesday's VP debate, you won't get a ton of it from the CBS broadcast.</li><li>But CBS News will offer fact-checking via its website.</li></ul>CBS is hosting Tuesday's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vance-walz-vice-presidential-debate-preview-2024-9">vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance</a>. But this won't be your run-of-the-mill debate, The New York Times tells us. This time around, CBS will be "using technology to try something new."That newfangled technology?A website.To be fair, that's not exactly how CBS and the Times are putting it.CBS's digital arm, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/business/media/cbs-vice-presidential-debate-fact-check-qr.html">the Times reports</a>, will be running what we internet publishing people sometimes call a "live blog," which will fact-check some of Walz and Vance's arguments. (Debate moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan won't be doing a ton of fact-checking during the broadcast itself, CBS has said.)But live blogs aren't anything new.The new, new thing, the Times stresses, will be that CBS will run a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code">QR code</a> onscreen during the debate. So viewers can use that tech to navigate to the liveblog run by a 20-person "<a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cbs-launches-fact-checking-news-a-i-deepfakes-misinformation-1235781289/">CBS News Confirmed</a>" team.That's it. That's the whole thing.You are reading this on a website, so I'm confident you know how QR codes work. To spell it out anyway: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-a-qr-code">QR codes</a> are supposed to be shortcuts to take you to a website, using the camera on your smartphone.But if you are holding a phone while you're watching Tuesday's debate, you certainly don't need to use a QR code to get to CBS's online fact-check: You can just type in <a target="_blank" href="http://CBSnews.com">CBSnews.com</a> into your browser and it will do the same thing.I'm only bothering to point this out because there's a good chance that you view QR codes the way people view highway tolls: something you'd rather avoid if possible.Despite the fact that technology companies and marketers have pushed QR codes our way for years, and insisted that we would come to love them — "they're big in Asia," we would often be told — Americans were historically quite resistant to them.There's a good reason for that. Using a QR code can often require opening up your phone's camera app, pointing it at the digital tag on a poster or a TV screen, getting the camera to focus on the tag, and then clicking through once it displays a web address. Why not just open your phone's web browser and tap in an address yourself?You probably did end up <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/people-hate-qr-code-menus-restaurants-disappearing-2023-5">using QR codes more frequently during the pandemic</a>, where they became part of the "touchless" experience in some consumer settings, notably restaurants. But like other pandemic experiences, it looks like the QR code spike has faded post-Covid, now that people are happy to do stuff like hold menus in their hands.Our corporate colleagues at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-qr-code-user-statistics">Emarketer say there was a 25% rise in QR usage in 2020, the first year of the pandemic</a>. They think the growth rate will have shrunk down to 5.1% this year.And for the record: If you end up watching the debate on a channel that isn't CBS — a slew of CBS competitors, including Fox, ABC, NBC, and CNN, will carry CBS' broadcast of the event on their own air — then you won't see any QR code at all. You'll have no choice but to get to <a target="_blank" href="http://CBSnews.com">CBSnews.com</a> the old-fashioned way. Which probably suits you just fine.

You don't need a QR code to get the facts checked at Tuesday's VP debate

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Former FBI agent Jason Hogg shared five tips to stay safe online.</li><li>Hogg emphasized the importance of verifying messages and being cautious with social media.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jason Hogg, a former FBI agent and an executive at the private equity firm Great Hill Partners. It has been edited for length and clarity.I can't talk too much about it, but I was a special agent with the FBI.As a member of Special Operations Group 13, I was exposed to a wide range of humanity's worst — from organized crime and terrorist activity to financial abuse and online death threats.After I left the FBI, I became the global CEO of a cybersecurity firm, where I ran everything from digital forensic investigations to penetration testing.The problem with staying safe on the internet nowadays is that the horse is out of the barn. But there are still things you can do.Here are five simple things to bear in mind on the internet:<h2 id="66b0c235-2235-478c-bdd0-056dacd9b5d0">Always be suspicious</h2>If you receive a video, phone call, voicemail, email, or direct message, try to confirm independently with the sender that it's real.If you don't recognize the number on a phone call, but it sounds like the person, put them on hold and independently verify it.Someone once tried to execute a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hacker-online-scams-getting-worse-ai-cybersecurity-expert-2024-9">deepfake call</a> on my mother. They sounded like my eldest daughter. My mom was 80 years old then, but the good news is that multiple people in her family were FBI agents or detectives, so she was immediately suspicious.She called me to check, and my daughter was with me, so she knew it was fake. Other people have not been that careful in the past.<h2 id="32b738df-1457-478e-b66d-725359185f66">Listen to your phone</h2>You know how your phone sometimes tells you your passwords have been compromised in a data leak? Some people just ignore that, which is astonishing to me.My father was the former CEO of MasterCard and a former FBI agent himself, but he still ended up having a significant amount of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-avoid-online-scam-ex-mastercard-exec-2024-9">money removed from his checking account</a> due to compromised credentials that he did not reset.Check the list of apps that have compromised passwords — you might be surprised at how many websites you have a password for in the first place — and go into the apps and change your passwords, at least for the important ones.Don't use the same password for absolutely everything. You don't need to have 150 passwords for 150 websites — but spread them out.I know it's a pain, but you are better safe than sorry.<h2 id="839fa3ab-b7e4-4211-b803-7ad79d39b394">Free WiFi is a risk</h2>If you are going to be using free WiFi at coffee shops or stations, definitely think about installing a VPN on your phone. It's so easy.And do not make financial transactions on a public WiFi network. You don't know who could have access to that information.<h2 id="75e4280b-83f0-4d43-8c6f-ee90d7127f83">Lock your credit information down</h2>It's easy. Just call the reporting agency (like Experian) and tell them you want to lock your credit bureau. They will develop a passkey for you to unlock it later.My lifelong friend's father had his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-score/how-to-reduce-identity-theft-risk">identity stolen</a> once, and he didn't have his credit bureaus locked down.The criminals used a false identity to purchase real estate in Brooklyn in his name and used the real estate to conduct fraudulent transactions.It was quite a personal and financial disruption in his life.This is something a lot of people don't do, but it's a free procedure that makes you instantly more protected against fraud.<h2 id="83142354-c2c2-4d7c-94f5-e5a3c69a407c">Post intelligently</h2>Whenever you are posting, always assume it could be used in some form against you. Would you still post it?It's one thing to post pictures of you having a good time — you do you — but it's another thing to go and publicly tag every person in the photo.For all the positive things that come from social media, it creates a treasure trove of information for bad actors. You have video, you have pictures, you have associations of friendship. You also have machine learning that can go through all of that at an incredible rate of speed — something that we've never seen before until now.There are service platforms and ransomware on the dark web that accelerate these exploits. That's also how <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-image-generators-used-by-children-to-create-indecent-images-safety-group-2023-11">deepfakes</a> are becoming more and more convincing — they use voice and image models from videos and photos that are out there already.

I'm a former FBI agent and cybersecurity expert. Here are 5 things everyone should do to outsmart online criminals.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Justice Department wanted a jury for its ongoing adtech antitrust trial against Google.</li><li>Google made sure it would go jury-less by paying a cashier's check of exactly $2,289,751.</li></ul>At around 7 p.m. on May 16, a courier working for Google hand-delivered a cashier's check to the US Department of Justice.The amount was for $2,289,751.That sum would cover the damages for one of the claims the Justice Department — and 18 states — brought in its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-lawsuit">sprawling antitrust lawsuit</a> against the company's advertising practices.But more importantly for Google, it would mean the case would never see a jury.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-adtech-antitrust-trial-could-transform-advertising-2024-9">antitrust trial</a>, which began on Monday and is expected to last another month, has been configured as a bench trial. There's no jury. US District Judge Leonie Brinkema, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, is deciding the facts and the law of the case from a Virginia courthouse.The Justice Department <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-doj-antitrust-trial-advertising-tech-market-2024-9">accuses Google of running a monopoly in the digital advertising market</a>, illegally crushing rivals and trapping clients in its ecosystem to drive up prices for everyone. The case is different from a different Google antitrust trial decided earlier this year, where <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-monopoly-antitrust-ruling-should-make-apple-meta-amazon-nervous-2024-8">a judge found the company illegally monopolized the search market</a>.Google says the Justice Department has overstated the power the company has in digital advertising. If Brinkema decides Google is an illegal monopoly in the market, it could force the company to break itself up.<h2 id="c65cb41c-9b08-4135-975c-77d73c429c0d">Only one of 5 counts required a jury</h2>While criminal defendants have a constitutional right to a jury trial, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-no-jury-bench-trial-ny-fraud-case-paperwork-2023-10">rules for civil cases are more nuanced</a>.The Justice Department brought five different counts against Google under the Sherman Act, the landmark 1890 law that allows for the Justice Department to break up monopolies.The first four acts called for "injunctive relief," meaning the judge could later order Google to change its practices.The fifth was for damages, meaning money.How much money? After some back-and-forth in court, the Justice Department said the monetary damages would amount to the sum that eight different federal agencies overpaid for online ads they purchased through Google's marketplace between January 2019 and January 2023. That amount would then be tripled, consistent with the Sherman Act. And then they'd add on interest.According to a couple of professors who the Justice Department hired to do the math, that all added up to $2,289,751.For context, Google's parent company Alphabet, is <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/googl-stock">worth $1.9 trillion</a>.Lawyers at the Justice Department's antitrust division were caught off guard by the check, one said at a later court hearing. The check was paid the night before a major filing was due. Google didn't admit to any wrongdoing on the fifth count, but their lawyers at Gibson Dunn said they "voluntarily tendered to the United States payment for the full amount of monetary relief it could receive" to make the issue "moot" and "streamline" the rest of the litigation.And besides, Google's lawyers said, it was cheaper than the legal fees the company would incur for continuing to fight it."Rather than require the court to wade into DOJ's uncharted and unwarranted demand for a jury trial, and to prevent the waste of resources that would result from defending against a damages claim worth far less than a fraction of the cost of litigation, Google has tendered the United States payment of the full amount of damages it seeks, trebled, plus prejudgment interest," Google's lawyers wrote.<div type="image" title="the virginia courthouse where google advertising antitrust trial is taking place" height="1666" width="2500" msid="113368909" hostid="261" sizebytes="340482"></div>But the real victory for Google was avoiding a jury.Juries are less predictable than judges, and may not be sympathetic to a massive tech company."There's a more robust public sentiment against big tech now than there maybe has ever been," Rebecca Allensworth, a professor of antitrust law at Vanderbilt University, told BI.The Justice Department "virtually never" brings antitrust cases to juries, Allensworth told BI. But in this case, they wanted one. The government lawyers complained to Brinkema, the judge, arguing the fifth count should stand and the damages ought to be decided by a jury. The amount Google gave them in the check was wrong, they said, citing court documents that they said showed the damages should be calculated differently.In the end, Brinkema sided with Google. The $2,289,751 figure came from math done by the Justice Department's own experts, she noted in a ruling. And the fact it was a cashier's check, issued by Wells Fargo, gave the Justice Department no excuse for refusing the money to keep the issue open, she said. (The precise check amount was initially redacted in court documents, but Brinkema later made it public.)"It's an absolute 'here's the money,'" she said at a June 7 hearing. "If they could have given you a wheelbarrow of cash, it would be the same thing."The trial, she said, would be sans jury.A Google representative directed BI to an earlier statement the company issued in response to the judge's decision."DOJ's contrived damages claim has disintegrated," the company said in a statement at the time. "We're glad the Court ruled that this case will be tried by a judge."Representatives for the Justice Department didn't respond to a request for comment.At the end of June 7 hearing, Brinkema applauded Google and the Justice Department for their clever legal arguments."I want to commend counsel. Your arguments are great," she said. "I'm looking forward to this trial because the quality of the lawyering has been excellent."

Google dodged a jury trial in its big adtech case with a $2,289,751 check

<ul><li><keyword id="790242" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="whatsapp" source="Orion">WhatsApp</keyword> has been accused of eavesdropping on private conversations.</li><li>The company attributed the issue to a bug, but some users are still concerned about privacy.</li><li>Below, read about how you can control which apps have access to your microphone. </li></ul>There have been recent concerns about WhatsApp potentially eavesdropping on private conversations. These concerns were echoed by <a href="https://twitter.com/foaddabiri/status/1654856617723301888?s=20">Fod Dabiri</a>, Twitter's director of engineering, who disclosed that WhatsApp had been using his phone’s microphone in the background while he was asleep, and he only discovered this when he woke up at 6 AM. Amplifying it, Elon Musk <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/elon-musk-is-escalating-his-beef-with-mark-zuckerberg-claiming-whatsapp-cannot-be-trusted-and-saying-the-meta-ceo-seems-extremely-partisan/articleshow/100126898.cms">echoed </a>his opinion by tweeting, “WhatsApp cannot be trusted.” <div type="twitter" handle="elonmusk" handlename="elonmusk" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1655967673107337216"></div> Following the incident, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced that the government would investigate any potential privacy violations in WhatsApp. WhatsApp has attributed the issue to a bug on Android that causes incorrect information to appear on privacy dashboards. The messaging platform has confirmed that all messages and calls on its platform are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that nobody can hear or read them. WhatsApp has also emphasized that users have complete control over their microphone settings and can choose to allow or disallow the app from accessing it. "We believe this is a bug on Android that mis-attributes information in their Privacy Dashboard and have asked Google to investigate and remediate," the company said. It said WhatsApp only uses a phone's microphone when the user is making a call or recording. In an official statement, WhatsApp stated that it had been in touch with the Twitter engineer who posted the issue and had asked Google to investigate and resolve the problem. WhatsApp further clarified that it only accesses the microphone when a user is making a call or recording a voice note or video and that these communications are also protected by end-to-end encryption. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Convenience at the expense of privacy?" comment="subhead" text="Convenience at the expense of privacy?">Convenience at the expense of privacy?</cmsannotation> In past occurrences, smart speakers have been reported to listen in on private conversations. Whistleblowers from Apple and Amazon disclosed in separate reports published by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-10/is-anyone-listening-to-you-on-alexa-a-global-team-reviews-audio?utm_source=GadgetFlow&amp;utm_medium=GadgetFlow&amp;utm_campaign=GadgetFlow&amp;utm_content=GadgetFlow&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall">Bloomberg News</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/26/apple-contractors-regularly-hear-confidential-details-on-siri-recordings?utm_source=GadgetFlow&amp;utm_medium=GadgetFlow&amp;utm_campaign=GadgetFlow&amp;utm_content=GadgetFlow">The Guardian</a> in April 2019 that they had eavesdropped on personal discussions through Siri and Alexa. The incidents involved sensitive conversations such as drug deals, intimate moments between couples, and children screaming for help. As per Bloomberg's findings, Amazon has numerous employees stationed globally whose job is to enhance the performance of Alexa. These teams listen to audio recordings from Echo devices in people's homes and offices, transcribe them, annotate them, and use their observations to update the software. This process eliminates delays in Alexa's comprehension of human speech and enables the device to respond more accurately to commands. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Here’s how you can stay safe" comment="subhead" text="Here’s how you can stay safe">Here’s how you can stay safe</cmsannotation> Android and iOS phone provides a green dot on the top left corner of the screen when an app is using your camera or microphone. You also have the option to manage which apps have access to your phone and its features. In order to do so, follow these steps. How to turn off your microphone on iPhone Navigate to Settings &gt; Siri &amp; Search and then toggle off the following items: <ol><li>Listen for ‘Hey Siri’</li><li>Press the side button for Siri</li><li>Allow Siri When Locked</li></ol>To turn off Siri, simply tap ‘Turn Off Siri’ when a pop-up window appears after selecting ‘Allow Siri When Locked.’ How to turn off your microphone on Android <ol><li>Navigate to Settings Select</li><li>Google &gt; Account Services &gt; Search, Assistant &amp; Voice &gt; Voice</li><li>Go to the Voice Match settings and toggle off the ‘Hey Google’ option. </li></ol>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-launches-passkeys-for-hassle-free-login-to-gmail-and-youtube-without-a-password-heres-how-to-set-them-up/articleshow/99977103.cms">Google launches Passkeys for hassle-free login to Gmail and YouTube without a password - here's how to set them up</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apples-safari-is-the-worlds-second-most-used-and-least-vulnerable-desktop-web-browser/articleshow/99926825.cms">Apple’s Safari is the world’s second-most-used and least vulnerable desktop web browser, yet only 1% of Indians use it</a>

Is WhatsApp secretly listening to your private conversations? Here’s how to check

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Harvard study found that AI phishing scams are as effective as human ones.</li><li>AI large language models can automate phishing, cutting costs by 95%.</li></ul>Online scams might soon just be a battle between AIs, one launching the attacks and another defending against them.Online scams are only becoming more prevalent, and with new AI technology, Harvard researchers say they could become much more difficult to avoid.Researchers at Harvard Business School published a <a target="_blank" href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10466545">study</a> that found 60% of participants were duped by AI-automated phishing emails, which was comparable to the success rates of phishing messages created by humans, they wrote in the <a target="_blank" href="https://hbr.org/2024/05/ai-will-increase-the-quantity-and-quality-of-phishing-scams">Harvard Business Review</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-phishing">Phishing scams</a> trick users into sharing personal information. A scammer will usually send an email or some other message pretending to be a company or individual asking for credit card information, passwords, or other sensitive information.While phishing scams are nearly as old as the internet, AI models are enhancing "their severity," researchers said. In the study, researchers found that large language models can automate the "entire phishing process" — from crafting the emails, identifying targets, and collecting information — which can reduce the cost of carrying them out by 95%."Because of this, we expect phishing to increase drastically in quality and quantity over the coming years," the authors wrote.While the AI models could make phishing scams worse, the researchers suggest they could also be used to help detect and fight them. Some AI models are better at it than others. Claude correctly identified phishing attempts even in "non-obvious phishing emails, sometimes outperforming human detection rates," the researchers wrote.Several AI models tested in the study also provided "excellent recommendations" for responding to phishing emails once they correctly identified them."For example, during our experiment, LLMs encouraged users who received an attractive discount offer email to verify the offer with the company's official website, which is a great strategy to avoid phishing attacks," the researchers wrote in the Harvard Business Review.The Federal Trade Commission says the best way to avoid phishing scams is to never click on a link from someone you don't know in an email or text message. The agency says to check if you have an account with the company or know the person and if you don't, report the message to its <a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams#report">Anti Phishing Working Group</a>.

You Searched For "online check in" and got 13 results

UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of

Sourabh Jain

RBI announces digital payments intelligence platform to check online frauds

ANI

Before buying a home, check this hidden financial risk

Morgan McFall-Johnsen

Noida woman tries getting her sim card converted into e-sim, ends up losing Rs 27 lakh

BI India Bureau

Govt warns about fake SMS asking users to update their PAN – what it is and how to stay safe

Sourabh Jain

78 pc of consumers choose digital banking over cash transactions

ANI

Hyderabad man uses online trading app to try and earn some extra money, loses Rs 8 lakh

Divyanshi Sharma

Online health providers are preying on young men's worst fears

Emily Stewart

You don't need a QR code to get the facts checked at Tuesday's VP debate

Peter Kafka

I'm a former FBI agent and cybersecurity expert. Here are 5 things everyone should do to outsmart online criminals.

Hannah Abraham

Google dodged a jury trial in its big adtech case with a $2,289,751 check

Jacob Shamsian

Is WhatsApp secretly listening to your private conversations? Here’s how to check

Rahul Verma

Online scams might soon just be a battle between AIs

Kenneth Niemeyer

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides