Debunking the Free Recharge Scam: Protecting Yourself from Misuse of TRAI's Name
Executive Summary:
Cyber incidents are evolving along with time, they are designed to attract and lure people through social networking sites and/or messaging services. In the recent past a spate of messages alleging that TRAI is offering ‘3 months free recharge with free voice calls and internet for 4g/5g with 200 GB free data’. These messages display the TRAI logo with attractive offers to trick the users into revealing their personal details. This blog discusses the functioning of this free mobile recharge scheme, its methods and guidelines on how to avoid such fake schemes. This blog explains the importance of vigilance and verification when receiving any links, emphasizing the need to report suspicious activities and educate others to prevent identity theft and protect personal information.
Claim:
The message circulated an enticing offer: free mobile recharge for 3 months which provides unlimited free voice calls with 200GB 4G/5G data with TRAI logo. The key characteristics of the false claims are
- Official Branding: The logo of TRAI has been viewed as a deceptive facade of credibility.
- Unrealistic Offers: It is accompanied by a free recharge , which is intended for an extended period indefinite period, like most fraudsters’ bait.
- Urgency and Exclusivity: The offer is for a limited time to make urgency forcing the receiver to take the offer without confirmation.
The Deceptive Scheme:
Organized systematically, the fraudulent campaign usually proceeds in several steps, all of which aim at extracting the victim’s personal data. Here’s a breakdown of the scheme:
1. Initial Contact: Such messages or calls reach the users’ inboxes or phone numbers through social media applications such as WhatsApp or through text messages. These messages further implies that the user was chosen for the special offer from TRAI, which elicits the interest of the user.
2. Information Request: To claim the purported offer, users are directed to a website or asked to reply with personal details, including:
- Phone number
- State of residence
- SIM provider details
This is useful for the scammers as they harvest information which can be used to conduct identity theft or sold to others on the shady part of the internet known as the ‘Dark Web’.
3. Fake Confirmation: After providing all the information, a congratulatory message appears on the screen showing that their phone number is eligible for the offer. The user is compelled to forward the message to many phone numbers through whatsapp to get the offer.
4. Pressure Tactics: The message often implies a sense of time constraint or fear which psychologically produces pressure to provide all the user information. For example, users are given messages such as that if they do not ‘act now’, they will lose their mobile service.
Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign
The TRAI fraudulent recharge scheme case depicts that social engineering is used in cyber crimes. Here are some key aspects that characterize this campaign:
- Sophisticated Social Engineering
Scammers take advantage of the holders’ confidence in official bodies such as TRAI. By using official TRAI logos, official language they try to deceive even cautious people.
- Viral Spread
The user is compelled to share the given message to friends and groups; this is an excellent strategy to spread the scam. It not only spreads the fraudulent message but also tries to extract the details of other people.
- Technical Analysis
- Domain Name: SGOFF[.]CYOU
- Registry Domain ID: D472308342-CNIC
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.hkdns.hk
- Registrar URL: http://www.hkdns.hk
- Updated Date: 2024-07-24T18:50:48.0Z
- Creation Date: 2024-07-19T18:48:44.0Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2025-07-19T23:59:59.0Z
- Registrar: West263 International Limited
- Registrar IANA ID: 1915
- Registrant State/Province: Anhui
- Registrant Country: CN
- Name Server: NORMAN.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- Name Server: PAM.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- DNSSEC: unsigned
Cloudflare Inc. is used to cover the scam. The real website always uses the older domain while this url has been registered recently which indicates that this link is a scam.
The graph indicates that some of the communicated files and websites are malicious.
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practice:
In light of the growing threat posed by such scams, the Research Wing of CyberPeace recommend the following best practices to help users protect themselves:
1. Verify Communications: It is always advisable to visit the official site of the organization or call the official contact numbers of the company to speak to their customer care and clarify about the offers.
2. Do not share personal information: No genuine organization will call the people for personal information. Step carefully and do not provide personal information that will lead to identity theft when dealing with such offers.
3. Report Fraudulent Activity: If one receives any calls or messages that seem to be suspicious, then the user can report cyber crimes to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on www. cybercrime. gov. in or call on 1930. Such scams are reportable and assist the authorities in tracking and fighting the vice.
4. Educate Others : Always raise awareness among friends by sharing these kinds of scams. Educating people helps to avoid them falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
5. Use Reliable Resources : Always refer to official sources or websites for any kind of offers or promotions.
Conclusion:
The free recharge scheme for 3 months with the logo of TRAI is a fraudulent scam. There is no official information from TRAI or in their official website about this free recharge scheme. Though the scheme looks attractive, it is deceptive. Through this, the scammers are trying to collect personal details of the individual. Before clicking any links, it is necessary to check the authenticity of the information, report these kinds of incidents to spread awareness among people. Always be safe and be vigilant.
Related Blogs
Introduction
According to a shocking report, there are multiple scam loan apps on the App Store in India that charge excessive interest rates and force users to pay by blackmailing and harassing them. Apple has prohibited and removed these apps from the App Store, but they may still be installed on your iPhone and running. You must delete any of these apps if you have downloaded them. Learn the names of these apps and how they operated the fraud.
Why Apple banned these apps?
- Apple has taken action to remove certain apps from the Indian App Store. These apps were engaging in unethical behaviour, such as impersonating financial institutions, demanding high fees, and threatening borrowers. Here are the titles of these apps, as well as what Apple has said about their suspension.
- Following user concerns, Apple removed six loan apps from the Indian App Store. Loan apps include White Kash, Pocket Kash, Golden Kash, Ok Rupee, and others.
- According to multiple user reviews, certain apps seek unjustified access to users’ contact lists and media. These apps also charge exorbitant fees that are not necessitated. Furthermore, companies have been found to engage in unethical tactics such as charging high-interest rates and “processing fees” equal to half the loan amount.
- Some lending app users have reported being harassed and threatened for failing to return their loans on time. In some circumstances, the apps threatened the user’s contacts if payment was not completed by the deadline. According to one user, the app company threatened to produce and send false photographs of her to her contacts.
- These loan apps were removed from the App Store, according to Apple, because they broke the norms and standards of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. These apps were discovered to be falsely claiming financial institution connections.
Issue of Fake loan apps on the App Store
- The App Store and our App Review Guidelines are designed to ensure we provide our users with the safest experience possible,” Apple explained. “We do not tolerate fraudulent activity on the App Store and have strict rules against apps and developers who attempt to game the system.
- In 2022, Apple blocked nearly $2 billion in fraudulent App Store sales. Furthermore, it rejected nearly 1.7 million software submissions that did not match Apple’s quality and safety criteria and cancelled 428,000 developer accounts due to suspected fraudulent activities.
- The scammers also used heinous tactics to force the loanees to pay. According to reports, the scammers behind the apps gained access to the user’s contact list as well as their images. They would morph the images and then scare the individual by sharing their fake nude photos with their whole contact list.
Dangerous financial fraud apps have surfaced on the App Store
- TechCrunch acquired a user review from one of these apps. “I borrowed an amount in a helpless situation, and a day before the repayment due date, I got some messages with my picture and my contacts in my phone saying that repay your loan or they will inform our contacts that you are not paying the loan,” it said.
- Sandhya Ramesh, a journalist from The Print, recently tweeted a screenshot of a direct message she got. A victim’s friend told a similar story in the message.
- TechCrunch contacted Apple, who confirmed that the apps had been removed from the App Store for breaking the Apple Developer Program License Agreement and guidelines.
Conclusion
Recently, some users have claimed that some quick-loan applications, such as White Kash, Pocket Kash, and Golden Kash, have appeared on the Top Finance applications chart in recent days. These apps necessitate unauthorised and intrusive access to users’ contact lists and media. According to hundreds of user evaluations, these apps charged exorbitantly high and useless fees. They used unscrupulous techniques such as demanding “processing fees” equal to half the loan amount and charging high-interest rates. Users were also harassed and threatened with restitution. If payments were not made by the due date, the lending applications threatened to notify users’ contacts. According to one user, the app provider even threatened to generate phoney nude images of her and send them to her contacts.
Introduction
In a groundbreaking move, India's Reserve Bank has embarked on a transformative journey with its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project. As the world grapples with the evolving landscape of digital finance, the implications of India's CBDC initiative extend beyond its borders, potentially reshaping global payment systems. The Union Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, revealed that on October 7, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India released a proposal note on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Two pilot projects using blockchain-based technology are described in the concept note: Digital Rupee-Wholesale (e₹-W) and Digital Rupee-Retail (e₹-R). Launched on November 1, 2022, the bulk trading pilot aims to increase intermediary competitiveness, particularly in the resolution of trades in the secondary market involving sovereign debt. In parallel, on December 1, 2022, the retail banking pilot, known as e₹-R, got underway in a limited user group with eight banks taking part in stages.
The digital asset known as e₳-R is issued across financial institutions for Person-to-Person (P2P) and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions. It is intended to serve as a virtual currency that represents legal money and exhibits characteristics similar to actual cash. Based on input gathered during the continuing trial phases, the RBI intends to progressively broaden the pilot project's scope.
Central Bank Digital Currency Pilot Projects
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which the Central Bank of India is promoting, may easily perform an essential part in payments made across borders, according to Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das. The CBDC is going to be expanded to the international financial markets after being implemented as a trial in both the retail and wholesale industries.
CBDC in International Payments
He emphasized that although physical currency will still exist, the CBDC will eventually replace all forms of money worldwide.
"CBDC is going to be the future currency of the world and it is necessary that every central bank, every country works on CBDC," he stated. He also stated that as worldwide commerce moves more and more around science and technology, CBDCs will play a significant role since they can effectively and affordably speed up payment processing across different countries. Regarding India's foreign exchange reserves, the governor stated that the selection to increase the resources as a safety net and protection versus contagion possibilities was made consciously.
CBDCs' Place in the Transnational Economic Revolution
In certain economies worldwide, having a CBDC internationally accessible could lead to more replacements for foreign currencies rather than the home currencies, which could cause financial aggregates to become volatile and change the mix of instruments of exchange.
CBDC may have benefits related to first-mover savings of scale, and other consequences even in everyday circumstances. If nations with global currencies have established CBDCs, they could strengthen current advantages and disadvantages, including consequences, particularly in terms of revenue. In a similar vein, CBDC might alter the structure of international liquidity while safeguarding asset supply. Additionally, and particularly if imposed abruptly, CBDC may, in certain circumstances, result in significant capital movements and associated repercussions on the foreign exchange rate as well as additional asset prices. Furthermore, nations may encounter difficulties in getting ready for virtual currencies issued by central banks.
The worldwide and international scope of CBDCs accessible to immigrants may become particularly apparent in situations where there is a widespread flight safety concern. In these circumstances, converting a CBDC into a foreign currency would make it possible for capital markets to deleverage more quickly. The elimination of debt challenges could show up as tight finance constraints and abrupt swings in foreign exchange markets if CBDCS expedited its flight from uncertainty.
Deposits of Foreign Exchange and Self-Dependency
Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das stated "We must rely on ourselves. We must maintain our robust reserves. In order to achieve that goal, we have been amassing quite substantial reserves, and the outside world has come to feel quite confident that India would be able to fulfil its contractual responsibilities to the international community no matter what the obstacles,"
Involvement of RBI in the Currency Market
Given that the trading community was confident that the Reserve Bank of India would be capable of and able to fulfil its contractual responsibilities, the value of the Indian rupee did not decline as dramatically. The RBI governor stated that the RBI does participate in the economy, but that "our engagement operates in two ways," he would not hesitate to acknowledge this.
The Value of Macroeconomic and Budgetary Cooperation
According to RBI Governor Das, the RBI makes purchases and sales of dollars based on the direction in which the financial sector is trending. However, the RBI does not intend to set a certain level for the rupee because it does not consider any specific threshold for the Indian rupee's conversion rate against the US dollar. He also emphasized how crucial it is for both the financial and monetary authorities to work together.
Conclusion
India's CBDC project signals a transformative shift in the global digital finance landscape. Governor Shaktikanta Das envisions CBDCs as the future global currency, emphasizing their role in international payments. The potential impact on financial systems, cross-border transactions, and the need for self-reliance underscore the significance of India's CBDC initiative in shaping the evolving dynamics of the digital economy. As the project progresses, close cooperation between financial and monetary authorities becomes imperative for navigating the challenges and opportunities associated with this groundbreaking venture.
References
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/central-bank-digital-currency-can-play-important-role-in-cross-border-payment-rbi-guv/articleshow/104706717.cms
- https://www.bis.org/cpmi/publ/d174.pdf
- https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/fintech/explained-how-rbi-is-leveraging-upi-to-push-the-use-of-retail-cbdc/103591989
- https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2022/02/09/sp020922-the-future-of-money-gearing-up-for-central-bank-digital-currency
- https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/cbdc-pilot-projects-show-promising-results-rbi-governor-shaktikanta-das-123102601171_1.html
Introduction
The government has announced that the new criminal laws will come into force on 1st July 2024. The Union Government notified that three recently enacted criminal laws, viz. Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 will be effective from 1st July 2024. The Indian Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, and Indian Evidence Act 1872 have been replaced by these new criminal laws.
On 23 February 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs Announced the Effective Date of new criminal laws as follows:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Effective from 1-7-2024, except Section 106(2).
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 Effective from 1-7-2024.
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 The provisions will come into force on 1-7-2024 except the provisions of the entry relating to section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in the First Schedule.
Section 106(2) Will Not Be Enforced
Truckers protested against this provision, which provides 10 years imprisonment and fines for those who cause death by rash and negligent driving of a vehicle not amounting to culpable homicide, and escape without reporting it to a police officer. As of now, the government has promised truckers and transporters that subsection 2 of Section 106 of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) will not come into force. This subsection deals with fatal hit-and-run cases and prescribes higher penalties for not informing authorities immediately after an accident.
Section 106(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 read as follows;
106. Causing death by negligence.—
(2) Whoever causes death of any person by rash and negligent driving of vehicle not amounting to culpable homicide, and escapes without reporting it to a police officer or a Magistrate soon after the incident, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of aterm which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023
The Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act 1872. The Act has undergone significant modification to maintain its fundamental principles for fair legal proceedings and adapt to technological advancements and changes in societal norms. This Act recognises electronic records as primary evidence under Section 57. It also allows the electronic presentation of oral evidence, enabling remote testimony and ensuring that electronic records will have the same legal effect as paper records.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaces the 1973 Code of Criminal Procedure, introducing certain modifications. This Act, under section 176, requires forensic investigation for crimes punished with seven years' imprisonment or more. Section 530 of BNSS, 2023 is a newly inserted provision which envisages the use of electronic communication audio-video electronic means for trials, inquiries, proceedings, service and issuance of summons. Electronic mode is permitted for all trials, inquiries, and proceedings under section 173 of this Act. The concept of Zero FIR is also introduced under section 173(1) and mandates police stations to register the FIR, irrespective of jurisdiction.
Conclusion
India's new criminal laws are set to take effect on 1st July 2024. These laws modernise the country's legal framework, replacing outdated statutes and incorporating technological advancements. The concerns from stakeholders led to the withholding of enforcement of Section 106(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. The new criminal laws aim to address contemporary society's complexities while upholding justice and fairness.
References
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/new-criminal-laws-to-come-into-effect-from-july-1-2506664-2024-02-24
- https://www.lawrbit.com/article/ipc-crpc-evidence-act-replaced-by-new-criminal-laws/
