In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of occurrences of internet fraud. Even if the majority of businesses and institutions have implemented robust checks and security measures, the financial sector’s fast digitization has also resulted in a rise in cybercrimes. Cybercriminals have been coming up with innovative ways to deceive people. Bengaluru-based tech entrepreneur Aditi shared one such new tactic that criminals are using to steal money.
Aditi detailed the experience and her brief escape from falling prey to a new financial fraud that uses expertly constructed SMS messages to cause confusion and ultimately steal money in a lengthy post on X, the platform that was formerly known as Twitter. Aditi said that she was on the phone with someone in her office who said she needed to send money to her father. He claimed to be having problems with his personal bank account and asked Aditi to help him get the money. She got an SMS notice shortly after the call that looked a lot like regular bank notifications. The notification stated that her account has been credited with the cash.
Aditi was then notified by the caller that he had meant to donate Rs 3,000 but had accidentally sent Rs 30,000 instead. He then asked Aditi to give back the extra cash. But when Aditi looked over the SMS alerts she had been receiving, she found anomalies and knew she was about to become a financial scam victim.
