The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued fresh advisories warning citizens about a sharp rise in online frauds. These warnings are based on patterns seen in complaints filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
The trend is clear. Most modern cyber scams no longer depend on hacking software or breaking into systems. Instead, they rely on people taking legitimate actions at the wrong time or under false guidance.
The advisories highlight three major scam types that are becoming common. These include misuse of matrimonial and dating platforms for fake investment and cryptocurrency schemes, call forwarding scams using USSD codes through delivery or courier impersonation, and WhatsApp Web account renting scams promoted through social media ads.
Though these scams use different methods, they share the same weakness. They depend on human trust.
In the WhatsApp Web scam, there is no technical breach. Victims are convinced to scan a genuine QR code, which gives fraudsters access to their account. From the system’s point of view, the action is valid. Yet the account is then used for illegal activities.
Call forwarding scams follow a similar pattern. Victims are asked to dial real telecom codes. Once done, their calls and messages are silently redirected. Again, the system works as designed.
On dating and matrimonial platforms, fraudsters build relationships over time before pushing fake investment offers. No system is broken. Trust is simply abused.
Authorities say identity is now the main target. Phone numbers, chat accounts, and personal credibility are being exploited. Once access is gained, financial and communication systems treat everything as legitimate.
The advisories focus on precautions rather than just awareness. Citizens are urged not to scan unknown QR codes, not to dial call forwarding commands on request, and to be careful about financial advice from personal chat platforms.
Officials also warn of legal risks. In some cases, victims may face questioning if their accounts are used for fraud. Proving misuse can be difficult.
Experts say this shift changes how digital risk should be understood. Systems can work perfectly and still be misused. This makes design choices, user prompts, and added checks more important than ever.
The bigger concern is that cybercrime in India is no longer about breaking systems. It is about shaping behaviour. Fraudsters do not need better tools. They need better stories.
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