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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

The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> Friday said it would hear on November 23 the plea filed by Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam seeking direction to the RBI for framing regulation to ensure that data collected on UPI platforms is not "exploited" or used in any manner other than for processing payments. The matter came up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian which listed it for hearing next week. On October 15, the apex court had sought responses from the Centre, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and others including Google Inc, Facebook Inc, WhatsApp and Amazon Inc on the plea. Viswam, the Communist Party of India (CPI) leader, has sought a direction to the RBI and the NPCI to ensure that data collected on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platforms is not shared with their parent company or any other third party under any circumstances. "In India, the UPI payments system is being regulated and supervised by Respondent no. 1 (RBI) and Respondent no. 2 (NPCI), however the RBI and the NPCI instead of fulfilling their statutory obligations and protecting and securing the sensitive data of users are compromising the interest of the Indian users by allowing the non-compliant foreign entities to operate its payment services in India," the plea has alleged. "The RBI and NPCI have permitted the three members of 'Big Four Tech Giants' i.e. Amazon, Google and Facebook/WhatsApp (Beta phase) to participate in the UPI ecosystem without much scrutiny and in spite of blatant violations of UPI guidelines and RBI regulations," it claimed. The plea has alleged that this conduct of RBI and NPCI put the sensitive financial data of Indian users at huge risks, especially when these entities have been "continuously accused of abusing dominance and compromising data", among other things. It said these allegations have become particularly worrisome at a time when India has banned host of Chinese applications on the ground that those applications were or could be used for data theft and could lead to security breaches. It has further sought a direction that RBI and NPCI should ensure that WhatsApp is not permitted to launch full scale operations of 'WhatsApp Pay' in India without fulfilling all legal compliances to the satisfaction of the court regarding requisite regulatory compliances. It said that in April 2018, the RBI, with a view to secure the data of Indian users, had issued a circular directing all system providers to ensure that entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in systems only in India and they were asked to ensure compliance by October 15, 2018. The plea claimed that later, the RBI toned down the April 2018 circular by issuing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and permitted processing of all payment transaction abroad, including domestic transactions. In the said FAQ it was clarified that in cases of data processing done abroad, the data should be deleted from the systems abroad and brought back to India within 24 hours, the plea said. It has sought the apex court's direction to declare the FAQ dated June 26, 2019 issued by the RBI as ultra vires to the circular dated April 6, 2018. The plea referred to another pending petition in the apex court and said that in that matter, the counsel appearing for WhatsApp had undertook that his client would not go ahead with payment services without complying with all the regulation in force. It alleged that Google and Facebook already have access to "immense personal data of millions of Indian users" and if they are permitted to collect "unrestricted financial data" of Indian users while operating at the UPI platform, the same would give them "draconian control" over sensitive Indian data. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/mumbais-massive-power-cut-last-month-may-have-been-the-work-of-hackers/articleshow/79318282.cms">Mumbai’s massive power cut last month may have been the work of hackers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vodafone-idea-shares-jump-after-selling-stake-in-indus-towers-for-3760-crore/articleshow/79316662.cms">Vodafone Idea soars nearly 5% on fund infusion from Indus Towers stake sale</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/pubg-mobile-india-was-supposed-to-launch-today/articleshow/79315462.cms">PUBG Mobile India was rumoured to launch today — but there is no official update from the company</a>

Plea for regulation to ensure UPI data is not 'exploited' to be heard by the Supreme Court on November 23

<ul><li>A new survey by US-analytics firm FICO shows that every four in five banks believe that the introduction of real-time payments has resulted in increased more fraud.</li><li>More than half of the banks surveyed feel that fraud is set to increase in the coming year.</li><li>The common way for hackers to beat the system is by using <keyword id="390692" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-engineering">social engineering</keyword>, which tricks users into revealing their sensitive information.</li></ul>Real-time payments platforms — like the United Payments Interface (UPI) in India — is aimed at making the payment process easier. However, four in every five banks in Asia are losing money to fraud as result of real-time payments become common. FICO, a US analytics company that uses predictive trends and data science, conducted a survey where 78% of executives said that the introduction of real-time payments resulted in an uptick in fraud losses. Losses are only set to increase, the question is to what degree. More than half the respondents felt that fraud will rise moderately over the next 12 months, however, 25% of executives believe that it will increase significantly. <div type="image" title="payments" msid="73549129" hostid="261"></div>

 Dan McConaghy, president of FICO in Asia Pacific, feels that the only way for banks to face the coming threat is to move beyond one-time-passwords (OTPs) and passwords. While the use of artificial intelligence (AI) might not slow down the clock, he feels that it will still help garner quicker responses and be more efficient at sniffing out fraudulent transactions. The art of social engineering Hackers aren’t trying to directly breach banking systems. Instead, they’re letting the customers do the work for them by tricking them into revealing their sensitive information. "Criminals are trying to fool banks into thinking they are new customers or stealing account access by tricking people into making security mistakes or giving away sensitive information. When they are successful, criminals are making use of real-time payments to move funds quickly through a maze of global accounts," explain McConaghy. According to FICO, 40% of Asian banks name social engineering as their number one concern when it comes to real-time payments fraud. "We have authorized push payment fraud, such as when a customer is tricked into paying what they think is a legitimate invoice like a fake school bill or payment to a tradesperson. This type of social engineering is harder to stop," said McConaghy. Others concerns that plague real-time payments are account takeovers, false accounts and money mules. According to McConaghy, better KYC, link analysis and behavioural analytics can help tackle the problem. The dark side of the internet Online fraud is only one problem. According to Asian banks, drug trafficking, human smuggling, tax evasion and terrorism also attracted the attention on real-time payments. Cross-border payments, in particular, are an issue. "To tackle fraud and money laundering schemes that exploit real-time money movement you need to leverage all the available technologies, automate as much as you can and introduce models that can identify outlier transactions and customer behaviour so your teams can spend their time investigating the riskiest of the red flags," said McConaghy. In order to tackle the misuse of real-time payments, more than 90% of Asian banks feel that convergence between their fraud and compliance functions would be helpful. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jeff-bezos-phone-hack-shows-hackers-are-winning-in-the-arms-race-between-governments-and-tech-firms/articleshow/73543826.cms">Jeff Bezos phone hack shows hackers are winning in the 'arms race' between governments and tech firms according to analysts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tcs-hacked-and-data-leaked-to-chinas-operation-cloud-hopper/articleshow/69969506.cms">TCS was hacked for its clients by China’s cyber spy campaign: Report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-nuclear-plant-hack-is-only-one-small-part-of-a-much-bigger-operation-according-to-a-cybersecurity-expert/articleshow/72033253.cms">Indian nuclear plant hack is only one small part of a much 'bigger' operation, according to a cybersecurity expert</a>

Four in five Asian banks are losing money to fraud as real-time payments rise — and it will only get worse in 2020

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Conservative <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-voting-campaigns-seoul-f29dd8982b18c1f7318d579b9afc83f1">Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party</a> won <keyword id="11944254" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="south-korea" source="Orion">South Korea</keyword>'s <keyword id="12168485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="presidential-election" source="Orion">presidential election</keyword> on Wednesday.</li><li>He had previously criticized a 52-hour workweek policy and said workers should be able to work 120 hours.</li></ul>South Korea has been trying to put an end to chronic overwork — but the country's incoming president has in the past appeared to push for even longer work hours.Conservative <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-voting-campaigns-seoul-f29dd8982b18c1f7318d579b9afc83f1">Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party</a> won South Korea's presidential election on Wednesday. In July, Yoon criticized outgoing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-has-dropped-its-inhumane-workweek-to-52-hours-a-week-2018-7">President Moon Jae-in's policy</a> to promote better work-life balance. Moon's policy limits the hours people can work to 52 hours a week — that's 40 hours a week, plus another 12 hours of overtime. Yoon said the system should allow for more flexibility, as some workers — such as game developers — may need to work longer hours during peak periods before going on an extended break."Workers should be allowed to work 120 hours a week and then take a good rest," he said, according to the <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/11/356_313675.html">Korea Times.</a> His suggestion of 120 hours a week is the equivalent of five 24-hour days.The average South Korean worker worked 1,908 hours in 2020 (36.69 hours a week), according to data from the <a href="https://data.oecd.org/emp/hours-worked.htm">Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD.)</a> That's one of highest hours-worked totals across the 38-country economic organization, behind only Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia. In the US, for comparison, the average worker put in 1,767 hours of work in 2020 (33.98 hours a week).Although South Korea's working hours in 2020 looked punishing, they were down from 1,967 hours in 2019 and 2,106 hours in 2013, per <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/employment/data/hours-worked/average-annual-hours-actually-worked_data-00303-en">OECD data</a>.South Korea is known for its hard-driving work culture. Workplace traditions such as long hours and weekend work are rife — even at <a href="https://www.insider.com/south-korea-startups-still-caught-in-abusive-gapjil-workplace-cultures-2021-7">startups</a>. There have also been reports of <a href="https://www.insider.com/south-korean-parcel-deliveryman-dies-from-overwork">delivery workers</a> who have died from overwork.Insider was not immediately able to reach Yoon or his representative for comment.<h2>A series of controversial statements</h2>Yoon's comments on the length of the workweek didn't sit well with many."If a person works 120 hours a week, he will die," said a <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210721000824">spokesperson</a> of Yoon's presidential rival, Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party, the <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210721000824">Korea Herald</a> reported in July.Yoon later said his comments were misinterpreted."What kind of a dictator would make people work 120 hours a week? That's nonsense," he said, per the Korea Herald. "I heard that people on the political opposite side from me distorted what I said as if I said we should work 120 hours. It's not worth any attention."Yoon has made other controversial comments on his campaign trail, including one in which he appeared to disparage Africa."Companies depend on internationally competitive technology. There is no such thing as hands and feet <keyword id="11910050" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="labor" source="Orion">labor</keyword> like people used to do anymore. India doesn't even do that anymore. It's something only a place like Africa still does," said <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/yoon-seok-youl-faces-racism-controversy-with-comment-belittling-africa-10544723">Yoon during a meeting</a> with university students in September, the <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/09/356_315689.html">Korea Times</a> reported.He has also suggested that feminism is responsible for the country's abysmal birth rate. South Korea has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world at 0.81 births per woman in 2021, according to the <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220309000107">Korea Herald,</a> citing official data. The <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2021/05/24/will-births-in-the-us-rebound-probably-not/">US total fertility rate</a> was 1.64 in 2020, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr012-508.pdf">National Center for Health Statistics.</a>"Some say feminism is too politically exploited [to the point] it prevents healthy relationships between men and women," Yoon said, according to the <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/08/02/skorea-South-Korean-Yoon-Seokyoul-feminism-comments/6541627927142/">UPI.</a> "From a social standpoint, the conditions are ill-suited for having and raising children. This is not a problem that can be solved by giving out government subsidies."

South Korea's incoming president once criticized the country's 52-hour workweek and said people should be allowed to work 120 hours a week

<ul><li>Sextortion is a type of cybercrime that involves blackmailing someone by threatening to expose sexually explicit images or videos of them.</li><li><keyword id="1545623" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="catfishing" source="Orion">Catfishing</keyword> and WhatsApp video calls are some common sextortion techniques.</li><li>Below, read about how you can defend yourself against sextortion.</li></ul>Aakash Karuturi (name changed), a 27-year-old Hyderabad resident, is an IT professional who works with a bank. As he was surfing through a matrimonial website, a prospect became friendly soon and requested a video call. Minutes into it, she started undressing – and a few minutes after the call ended, her video and his reaction to it was captured in a recording, and the subject threatened to send it to his friends and family on Facebook. His only option was to pay ₹5,000 to a UPI account. Instead of being extorted, Karuturi walked into a police station close by, who tried to trace the number – which went to a jungle in Rajasthan. The number itself was unregistered. Moreover, the policeman also pointed out that the girl’s video was never live and had simply played out a recording. “You should keep all your social media profiles locked,” the policeman warned and sent him to the cyber crime cell in the city. There, Karuturi was shocked to see at least 10-15 young men who were cheated in the same modus operandi, and most of the victims had also paid exorbitant amounts to their blackmailers, who only came back for more. This crime — called sextortion, is becoming more and more common as a lot of people now spend a considerable amount of time online. A lot of blackmailers bait their victims via several innovative means. The most common way is via calls where unknown users claim to have tracked the victim’s online activity, specifically visits to pornographic websites. The message also asserts that they have video evidence from webcams, or perhaps they have obtained obscene photos or videos. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is Sextortion?" comment="subhead" text="What is Sextortion?"><keyword id="12072024" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="what-is-sextortion" source="Orion">What is Sextortion</keyword>?</cmsannotation> Sextortion is a form of blackmail that involves extorting victims by threatening to release sexually explicit images or videos of them. Sextortion is a criminal act that involves blackmailing someone by threatening to expose sexually explicit images, videos, or personal information about them. Typically, the perpetrator will demand money or demand further sexual acts from the victim to prevent the release of the sexual content. They may also threaten to share the explicit material with the victim's family, friends, and colleagues or post it on pornographic websites. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Fear is the real bait" comment="subhead" text="Fear is the real bait">Fear is the real bait</cmsannotation> Sextorters are skilled at creating fear in their victims. They may use explicit images or screenshots of explicit conversations to intimidate the victim. Additionally, they may hunt the victim's social media accounts to find information about their friends and family. The goal is to make the victim believe that their reputation could be destroyed at any moment, even though the threat may not be genuine. Sextorters often use fear as a tool to manipulate their victims, even if they don't actually have any explicit videos or images of them. However, in some cases, sextorters may obtain explicit content from their victims in various ways. <ul><li>One way is through sexting, where the perpetrator engages in sexually explicit conversations with the victim and persuades them to send explicit images or videos. The perpetrator may also send stolen images or videos to the victim first to gain their trust.</li><li>Another method involves taking control of the victim's webcam without their knowledge. The perpetrator can trick the victim into downloading a malware file.</li><li>Some perpetrators use threats to coerce the victim into performing sexual acts in front of their webcam or video call. This strategy is typically employed after initial blackmail attempts to obtain further material from the victim.</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Beware of these common sextortion schemes" comment="subhead" text="Beware of these common sextortion schemes">Beware of these common sextortion schemes</cmsannotation> Below are a few common strategies that sextorters use to coerce their victims into complying with their demands. Recognising these tricks and characteristics can help you take preventative measures against sextortion. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Catfishing" comment="subhead" text="Catfishing">Catfishing</cmsannotation> Most sextortion cases are initiated by catfishing, another form of online attack. In this type of scam, the offender impersonates someone else, typically an attractive person like a gorgeous young woman, a wealthy businessman, or someone with similar interests to the victim, to appear relatable. Experienced catfishing sextorters are very cunning. They create fake social media profiles using stolen photos and well-crafted profile descriptions. After creating fake profiles, the perpetrator usually approaches several users on various social media and dating platforms by sending friend requests, liking their profiles, or dropping them a message. Once the victim responds, the sextorter engages in conversation to build trust and obtain personal information. The final step involves coercing the victim into sending sexually explicit images that the offender will use in a sextortion scheme. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="WhatsApp video call" comment="subhead" text="WhatsApp video call">WhatsApp video call</cmsannotation> Sextortion through fake WhatsApp video calls has emerged as a prevalent scam in India. In this scheme, the victim receives an unexpected video call from an unknown number, where a naked woman attempts to lure the victim into performing sexual acts. Later, the victim receives a call from the scammer who claims that a nude video of them is available on YouTube and demands a hefty amount to remove it. This has become a widespread sextortion case, preying on the fears and vulnerability of victims who may not be aware of the scam. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Facebook sextortion" comment="subhead" text="Facebook sextortion">Facebook sextortion</cmsannotation> Sextortion on Facebook is a prevalent catfishing scam, where perpetrators send friend requests or direct messages to strangers. The scammer engages the victim in conversation, gaining their trust and eventually requesting sexually explicit content. Once the victim has shared such material, the perpetrator will use it as leverage to extort money or further explicit material. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sextortion email campaigns" comment="subhead" text="Sextortion email campaigns">Sextortion email campaigns</cmsannotation> Sextorters may send scary emails to many people, trying to trick them. They might say they saw the person doing private things on their computer camera and threaten to show others if they don't pay them money. Or, they could threaten to tell everyone about adult websites the person visited. Anyone could be tricked by these emails. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sextortion by your ex or someone you know" comment="subhead" text="Sextortion by your ex or someone you know">Sextortion by your ex or someone you know</cmsannotation> We have talked mostly about strangers using sextortion to scam people, but it's also possible for someone you know to do it. For example, an ex-partner with sexual pictures or videos of you could threaten to share them if you don't do what they want. Usually, this kind of blackmail happens after a relationship ends, and it's called revenge porn. But in some cases, sextorters may use these images to pressure their partner to stay with them or provide more sexual images or acts. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to prevent sextortion" comment="subhead" text="How to prevent sextortion">How to prevent sextortion</cmsannotation> Preventing sextortion is crucial, given the severe impact and distress it causes the victims. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of sextortion. <ul><li>Share as little personal information about yourself as you can.</li><li>Utilise the privacy settings available on your social media platforms to safeguard your data. On Facebook, you can conceal specific profile details and your friend list. Similarly, review and adjust your privacy preferences on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.</li><li>Consider using a nickname when creating a profile on dating sites. This can make it challenging for individuals who engage in sextortion to locate your personal information and uncover details about your friends, family, or acquaintances.</li><li>It is advisable to always refrain from accepting friends or following requests from individuals whom you are not familiar with.</li><li>Exercise caution when dealing with links and file downloads sent by unknown individuals, and also be wary of unexpected attachments, even from people you know. It is best to only click on them with careful consideration.</li><li>It is recommended to cover your webcam when it is not in use.</li><li>File a complaint as soon as possible since it makes taking action against criminals much easier.</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What to do if you have been sextorted" comment="subhead" text="What to do if you have been sextorted">What to do if you have been sextorted</cmsannotation> Get in touch with someone close Feeling ashamed of your current situation is understandable, but confiding in someone you trust is essential. Two heads are generally better than one when it comes to generating solutions and speaking about your issues can help you feel more composed and clear-headed, assisting you in determining your next course of action. Cease all communication with the offender The mere thought of not responding to the sextortionist's messages may cause you to panic. Your mind may race with anxious thoughts, such as ‘Will they contact my family?’ or ‘Can I still message my friends?’ It's also important to ask yourself if you will endure this situation indefinitely. The answer should always be no. You have the right to be liberated from this abuse. Continuing any form of communication only keeps you under the manipulative control of your abuser. Once you cut off all contact, you can begin taking steps toward seeking justice. Don’t delete the evidence Evidence is necessary to establish the exploitation's extent, duration, and timeline. Although you may feel compelled to erase any evidence of the incident from your computer to avoid humiliation, resisting that urge and keeping everything is essential. Once legal proceedings begin, you won't have to bear the burden of shame any longer. Inform the police It's crucial to notify the police at the outset of the incident to ensure prompt legal action. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/how-kissangpt-the-ai-chatbot-helping-indian-farmers-maximize-their-profits/articleshow/99428621.cms">From fields to screens: KissanGPT, the AI chatbot helping Indian farmers maximize their profits</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/honda-ends-production-of-jazz-wr-v-and-city-4th-generation-cars/articleshow/99260795.cms">Honda struggles in the Indian car market with discontinuation of nine models in six years</a>

Sextortion: A looming threat to online security and how to defend against it

<ul><li><keyword id="67350" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cambridge-University">Cambridge University</keyword> has launched a new online game that educates players on the dangers of fake news by plunging them into a world of <keyword id="535763" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Misinformation">misinformation</keyword>.</li><li>The aim behind it is to stop the spread of fake news by pre-bunking it. </li><li>The game takes just ten minutes to play and runs you through four short levels that expose the top manipulation techniques witnessed in today’s online world. </li></ul>It’s not always easy to tell real news apart from fake news, especially in a world where misinformation trends faster than facts. However, a new game by <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/game-combats-political-misinformation-by-letting-players-undermine-democracy">Cambridge University</a> called <a href="https://harmonysquare.game/en">Harmony Square</a> wants to change that status quo by getting ahead of the problem — or ‘pre-bunking’ fake news. "Trying to debunk misinformation after it has spread is like shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted. By pre-bunking, we aim to stop the spread of fake news in the first place," said Sander van der Linden, Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making lab and senior author of the new study. <div type="image" title="Screenshot (223)_edited" msid="79082317" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Harmony Square assigns players the role of ‘Chief Disinformation Officer’ — someone who sows ‘discord and chaos’ within the hypothetical city’s democratic process.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Exposing the top manipulation techniques to make fake news go viral <keyword id="10233305" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="harmony-square">Harmony Square</keyword> is based on the findings of several studies that show how gamified approaches to digital literacy significantly reduce susceptibility to fake news and online conspiracies. The underlying logic is simple. Exposing people to small ‘doses’ of some of the most common techniques used to spread fake news within the game helps them better identify and filter out misinformation when they interact with it in real life. Experts call this the ‘inoculation theory’. <div type="image" title="Screenshot (230)_edited" msid="79082498" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The game gives fake headlines for you to build on and create ‘fake news’. This is the first chapter where players troll a particular incident.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The game takes just ten minutes to play and runs you through four short levels that expose the top manipulation techniques witnessed in today’s online world. This includes: <ul><li>trolling to provoke outrage </li><li>exploiting emotional language to create anger and fear </li><li>artificially amplifying reach through bots and fake followers </li><li>creating and spreading conspiracy theories </li><li>polarizing audiences </li></ul><div type="image" title="Screenshot (229)_edited" msid="79082467" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Harmony Square also lets you indulge in the local elections for the ‘Community Bear Patroller’&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Does Harmony Square really work? <keyword id="127583" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="University-of-Cambridge">University of Cambridge</keyword> psychologists created the game with support from the US Department of State's Global Engagement Center and Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). To prove that it works, the researchers conducted a randomised controlled trial of 681 participants. They asked the participants to rate the reliability of headlines and social media posts, some of which were real and others were not. <div type="image" title="amplification" msid="79082509" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;After each level, the game gives a quick summary of the kind of manipulation technique that was used in the chapter.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Half of them were then asked to play Harmony Square, while the other half engaged with Tetris before being shown another series of posts. The participants who played Harmony Square saw their perceived reliability of misinformation drop by an average of 16%. Their willingness to share fake news also reduced by 11%. More importantly, the study published in <a href="https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/breaking-harmony-square-a-game-that-inoculates-against-political-misinformation/">Harvard Misinformation Review</a> found that the participants own political views, whether liberal or conservative, did not have a bearing in their attitude towards fake news. <div type="image" title="Screenshot (231)_edited" msid="79082587" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;With every action, Harmony Square shows how the number of followers or influence increases. The more provocative the news is, the higher its virality.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> "The effect size suggests that if the population was split equally like the study sample, 63% of the half that played the game would go on to find misinformation significantly less reliable, compared to just 37% of the half left to navigate online information without the inoculation of Harmony Square," said Van der Linden. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/aws-expands-india-footprint-with-plans-for-a-second-cluster-of-data-centers-in-hyderabad-by-2022/articleshow/79075220.cms">AWS pumps $2.7 billion into India to set up a second cluster of data centers in Hyderabad by 2022</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-and-china-slated-to-hold-8th-round-of-military-level-talks-as-troops-gear-up-for-ladakhs-sub-zero-winters/articleshow/79074473.cms">India and China slated to hold 8th round of military-level talks as troops gear up for Ladakh’s sub-zero winters</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-pay-upi-rolls-out-while-google-pay-phonepe-have-already-got-the-first-sting-with-the-npci-cap/articleshow/79075049.cms">WhatsApp Pay UPI is now live while Google Pay, PhonePe have already got the first sting</a>

You Searched For "upi data exploitation" and got 6 results

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Sextortion: A looming threat to online security and how to defend against it

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