Delhi has underscored the increasing danger of online scams, especially those related to fraudulent Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. Renu Vishwanath, a 59-year-old retired headmistress, lost her savings of Rs 47 lakh after being ensnared in a carefully planned scam that started with a WhatsApp message.
“No Bank will ever ask any customer to verify KYC through WhatsApp or download external APK files. Cyber criminals often create an urgency to trick any user to extract personal information. With banks, the KYC verifications can be done through banking apps or websites. One needs to protect themselves from such scams. They should avoid clicking suspicious links and never download apps or share OTP. Users should verify the source and maintain a two-way verification to avoid being succumbed to such frauds to protect themselves,” said Alay Razvi, managing partner, Accord Juris.
Meghna Mishra, a senior partner at Karanjawala & Co., provides insight into the case. The scammer contacted her via WhatsApp, claiming that her KYC was pending. Following this, she received a phone call from the scammer, who pretended to be a bank employee and urged her to complete the KYC process, guiding her through it while they spoke.
The fraudster then sent her another WhatsApp message with a link to download an APK (Android Package Kit) file. Unfortunately, this file contained malware that granted the scammers remote access to her banking information, enabling them to deplete her savings.
“To stay unharmed, people must exercise caution, be a little more tech-friendly and avoid downloading unknown APK files sent via WhatsApp, email, or SMS. Banks do not request KYC verification through WhatsApp, and any such message should be treated as a red flag. Additionally, unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be customer service representatives should be ignored, and any KYC updates should only be completed through official bank channels only.”
“Another common scam tactic involves sending links disguised as wedding invitations, courier tracking messages, or urgent banking alerts—these should never be clicked. If anyone suspects any fraudulent activity, they must report it immediately on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or by calling 1930,” said Kartikay Trivedi, associate, SKV Law Offices.
“While caller tune advisories have been used to warn the public of these fraudulent activities, they have turned out to be in vain. The government must expand its awareness campaigns through Public Service Announcements (PSAs), awareness booths and workshops, that specifically address emerging scam tactics, such as fake KYC requests and malware-laden links. Awareness through television, social media, and digital platforms is essential to ensure people recognise and avoid such threats,” Trivedi said.
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