#whatsappscam

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In a chilling example of digital deception, a Pakistani fraudster attempted to trick an Indian man by impersonating a police officer using a fake WhatsApp profile. The scammer, armed with a photo of a real police officer, tried to convince the victim that he was under investigation for a serious crime. This case highlights the growing use of social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp for scamming unsuspecting individuals across borders.

How the Scam Unfolded

The scam began when the victim, an Indian resident, received an unexpected WhatsApp call from a number displaying the photo of a man in police uniform. The caller introduced himself as a high-ranking officer from a local law enforcement agency and claimed that the victim was being investigated for a crime.

The scammer, using the police officer’s image as part of the deception, fabricated a series of fabricated charges, threatening the victim with legal action unless a significant sum of money was immediately paid. The victim, feeling threatened and overwhelmed by the authenticity of the message, was instructed to transfer funds to avoid arrest.

To further heighten the pressure, the fraudster provided a fake case number, an official-sounding name, and even a fabricated warning about consequences if the money was not paid immediately. The scammer then urged the victim to keep the situation confidential, adding a sense of urgency and secrecy to the communication.

Red Flags and How to Spot This Type of Scam

Unsolicited Calls from Unknown Numbers: One of the biggest red flags in this case was the unsolicited WhatsApp call from an unknown number. Legitimate law enforcement agencies typically do not contact individuals in this manner. If you receive an unexpected call from an official-sounding number, always verify it through other channels.

Impersonation of Authorities: Scammers often impersonate government officials, such as police officers, to create a sense of trust and authority. In this case, the use of the police officer’s photo helped the fraudster appear more credible. However, official agencies never demand payments or sensitive information over messaging apps.

Threats and Urgency: Scammers often use threats of legal action or arrest to create panic and pressure victims into acting quickly. No legitimate authority would demand immediate payment to settle a case. Always take a moment to pause and assess the situation.

Fake Case Numbers and Documentation: In many scams, fraudsters provide fake case numbers, fake documents, or forged evidence to back their claims. If you are ever asked for personal information or money in exchange for resolving a legal issue, double-check the authenticity of the details before taking any action.

Requests for Confidentiality: The scammer in this case encouraged the victim to keep the situation private, which is another common scam tactic. Real authorities would not ask you to keep legal matters secret or prevent you from discussing them with others.

How to Respond If You Are Targeted by a Scam

Don’t Share Personal Information: Never share personal details, financial information, or payment methods over messaging apps or unsolicited phone calls. Scammers often try to manipulate their victims into revealing sensitive data.

Verify the Claim: If you receive a suspicious call or message from someone claiming to be from a law enforcement agency, hang up and call the agency directly using official contact information to verify the claim. Do not rely on any phone numbers or links provided in the message.

Don’t Make Payments: If someone demands immediate payment to resolve a legal matter, it is likely a scam. Do not send money or share payment details. Instead, report the situation to local authorities.

Report the Scam: If you suspect that you have been targeted by a scam, report it to your local police or cybercrime department. You can also file a report with online platforms like WhatsApp to block the fraudulent account and prevent future scams.

Educate Yourself and Others: Be aware of common scam tactics, and share this knowledge with family members and friends, especially those who may not be as familiar with online fraud.

Conclusion

This recent scam, where a Pakistani fraudster impersonated a police officer to deceive an Indian man, is just one example of the growing threat of online fraud. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in their use of technology to manipulate victims, often exploiting trust and authority to trick people into handing over money or personal information.

A message is viral on WhatsApp, claiming that the Government of India, under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) is giving Rs. 25,000 as per the 2020 budget. "सन् 2020 के नये बजट के अनुसार भारत के हर परिवार के किसी भी एक व्यक्ति को प्रधानमंत्री आवास योजना के तहत 25000 रु दिए जा रहे है, अगर आपके परिवार में से किसी ने भी इस योजना का लाभ नहीं उठाया है तो आप अभी नीचे लिंक पर क्लिक करके फॉर्म भरे और 25000 रु प्राप्त करे।" Translation: According to the new 2020 budget, one member from every Indian family can receive Rs. 25,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Prime Minister's Housing Scheme). If none of your family members have availed this scheme, you can do so by clicking on the link below and filling the form and receive Rs. 25,000.

  Truth

  The link shared in the message, pmyojna.ssctechnical.com, is clearly fake. Official government of India websites end with .gov.in or just .in. There are two websites for the government's actual Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Scheme. https://pmay-urban.gov.in

and https://pmaymis.gov.in

The domain http://pmyojna.ssctechnical.com is one year and eight months old, which does not make sense if the scheme was only declared in the fiscal year 2020-2021. The domain searches further established that the website is not an official government webpage, as the registered name is 'ssctechnical.com'.

  Analysis

When clicked, the link redirects the user to a page with the name of the scheme and a form that asks for the name, mobile number, address and the pin code of the applicant. Scrolling down reveals 'customer rating' and an image of PM Modi with his name misspelt as 'Narendr Nodi'. The page also says (like with the 'free mask' scam link) that the offer is valid only till April 30, 2020 and that 1,12,959 have availed the scheme so far. On the top of the page, a message reads "सूबेदार यादव ने आवास योयना के द्वारा 25000 रु प्राप्त किए|" (Subhedar Yadav got Rs. 25,000 under the Awaas Scheme.)

The terms and conditions of the page reveal the fact that the page is designed as a prank.

"इस वेबसाइट का उदेश केवल मजाक ( prank ) करना है आपके दोस्त ने इस वेबसाइट के जरिए आपको वेबकूफ बनाया है यहाँ कोई भी narendr modi awas yojna ऑफर नहीं चल रहा है अगर आप भी अपने दोस्तों को वेबकूफ बना कर मजाक करना चाहते हो तो इसे अपने दोस्तों को शेयर करे और इस वेबसाइट का उदेश किसी भी तरह से आपको मानसिक या साररिक रूप से हानि पहुंचना नहीं है और ना ही आपकी किसी भी जानकारी को लेकर उसका गलत उपयोग करना है और इस वेबसाइट में आपकी किसी भी जानकारी को सेव नहीं किया जा रहा है|" Translation: This website is designed as a prank, your friends have pranked you with this message. There is no offer for Narendr Modi Awas Yojna here and you can prank your friends too by sharing it. This website does not intend to cause any mental or physical harm to anyone and it does not save or misuse any of your personal information. When the form is filled and submitted, the next page asks the user to share the message on WhatsApp with at least 5 people. We found that the website accepts null responses i.e, the user need not actually send it.

   After clicking on 'Submit Now', the user receives a registration number that they're advised to note down and keep. When the dialogue box is closed, the user is redirected to a page which asks them to download a mobile application to keep track of their application.

Scrolling down on that page gives the user a chance to view the privacy policy, disclaimer, terms and conditions, about us and an option to contact the relevant organisation. Clicking any of these (except Contact Us) generates a fresh registration number each time. Clicking on 'Contact Us' takes the user to a webpage with a fake form for the government's unemployment scheme, which has been debunked here.

  If the user decides to download the recommended application, the page redirects the user to 'VideoBuddy' and clicking on 'Download now' opens multiple marketing pop-ups that do not lead to anything.