Tag: scam

‘Cyber kidnapping’ scam: How This student was found in US after $80,000 ransom paid by parents
Technology

‘Cyber kidnapping’ scam: How This student was found in US after $80,000 ransom paid by parents

[ad_1] A Chinese exchange student who fell victim to a "cyber kidnapping" scam in which his parents were extorted for $80,000, was found alive but "cold and scared" in a tent in the Utah wilderness, police said. Kai Zhuang, age 17, was reported missing on Thursday after his parents in China told officials at his host high school in Riverdale, Utah that he appeared to have been kidnapped and a ransom had been requested.What is "cyber kidnapping" scamThe case followed a typical pattern for cyber kidnapping, in which "kidnappers" tell a victim to isolate and provide pictures of oneself as if being held captive -- photos that are then sent to the victim's family to extort a payment. The victims comply under the belief their family will otherwise be harmed. How the Police found himAfter anal...
Dangerous QR code scam targets devotees ahead of Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya; know how to avoid
Technology

Dangerous QR code scam targets devotees ahead of Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya; know how to avoid

[ad_1] On the last day of the year, a new online scam has surfaced which is trapping many innocent people. On January 16, the inauguration ceremony for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will begin, with the consecration of Ram Lalla scheduled for January 22. Ahead of the big event, some bad actors are asking people for donations by pretending to be representatives of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust constituted to look after the construction and management of the Ram Mandir. These scammers are pulling off a QR code scam where they share a fake QR code to transfer the money to their own accounts.Raising awareness about the QR code scam, the spokesperson of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vinod Bansal took to X, where he posted about this dangerous scam. He said, “Beware! Some people are t...
Blackmail, suicides to nudes, 10 things to know about the horrifying instant loan app scams
Technology

Blackmail, suicides to nudes, 10 things to know about the horrifying instant loan app scams

[ad_1] Online scams are not a new thing and have existed for long, harking back to the days of emails when the infamous ‘Nigerian Prince' spam mail was sent to trap innocent victims. However, in recent times, the scammers have grown more vicious and nefarious in their ways. One such example is the instant loan app scam. These are the apps that offer instant, hassle-free loans to people in need of money but they charge a much higher rate of interest than banks. While not all such apps are predatory, many of them are. The scammers behind these apps use every trick in the book from harassment, humiliation, and blackmail to make victims repay the money with a ridiculously high rate of interest. Check these 10 points to know how they operate and how to protect yourself from them.Recently, BB...
Beware! QR Code scams are on the rise; Know how they work and how to avoid them
Technology

Beware! QR Code scams are on the rise; Know how they work and how to avoid them

[ad_1] The dark side of any technological advancement is that bad actors will use it for their personal advantage. We are already seeing this happen with artificial intelligence as AI-powered malware is being spotted, as well as a higher number of deepfakes have also surfaced. But the threat that is reaching a highly concerning level has to do with QR code-based scams. These online scams are on the rise and have led many people to fall prey to scammers and they end up losing a fortune. You need to know how a QR Code scam works because that will also help you in avoiding such scams altogether. So, let us take a look.A 30-year-old Indian Institute of Science professor recently became a victim of a QR code scam. The professor was trying to sell his washing machine on an online portal on Au...
Germany hunts for cyber criminals amid billion-euro scams
Technology

Germany hunts for cyber criminals amid billion-euro scams

[ad_1] At the start, the job looked like a well-paid role in finance. It ended with a $10,000-a-month drug habit and a cell in a German prison.That's the story of Tal-Jacki Z.F., who was involved in an online trading fraud and confessed in 2021 to his part in cheating victims in Germany, Austria and other European countries of almost €9 million ($9.8 million). He was a cog in a machine, helping to set up and operate highly-professional call centers in Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, with the aim of fleecing investors through slick online software that mimics the look and feel of legitimate trading. Online trading fraud is a rapidly growing global problem. In the US, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that such scams stole $3 billion last year; Equivalent...
AI DANGER! Artificial intelligence being used to carry out malware attacks, warns FBI
Technology

AI DANGER! Artificial intelligence being used to carry out malware attacks, warns FBI

[ad_1] The generative artificial intelligence revolution has brought new avenues of growth and potential for massive advancements, but along with that have come new threats to security and privacy. Recently we have seen instances of cybercrimes emerge where criminals and bad actors have been leveraging generative AI for malicious purposes. Just last month, a man in Thiruvananthapuram was scammed of Rs. 40,000 after the scammer used deepfakes to impersonate someone the victim knew. These crimes, which now use advanced AI malware, have risen so much that even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the USA had to issue a warning to the public to raise awareness of such crimes.According to a report by PCMag, The US agency held a meeting with journalists to discuss how generative AI ma...
25 Plates Of Samosas Ended Up Costing This Mumbai Doctor Rs 1.40 Lakh – Find Out Why
Health

25 Plates Of Samosas Ended Up Costing This Mumbai Doctor Rs 1.40 Lakh – Find Out Why

[ad_1] Hot, crispy samosas with a flavourful filling can uplift our mood at any time of the day. Be it a picnic or in a movie theatre, this masaledar snack is much loved by foodies. A Mumbai-based doctor and his colleagues' recent plan to feast on samosas took an unfortunate turn. He ended up losing Rs 1.40 lakh in the bargain. As per a PTI report, the doctor was actually duped when he called a popular restaurant in Sion to order 25 plates of samosas on Saturday. According to the police, the incident took place between 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM on July 8, when the doctor was asked to pay for the snacks before he received them. Also Read: Lemon Melon Is The New Innovation By Japanese Farmers! Guess The PriceThe official release explained that the doctor and his colleagues had planned a picnic a...