Cyber Crime Cell Deactivates nearly 100 Social Media Accounts

Nearly 99 complaints of misusing a social networking website, Facebook (FB), were received by the state cyber crime cell in the past one year, of which 84 accounts were deactivated by the cell.

It was stated by the crime investigation department (CID) inspector general Satwant Atwal Trivedi in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

In a survey conducted by the state CID wing, it was revealed that cyber crime cell, which was set up to provide technical assistance to all police stations, received 99 complaints regarding fake and hacked Facebook profiles.

From March 2013 to March 2014, the cell received 280 complaints relating to various types of cyber-crimes such as debit or credit cards frauds, online lottery scams and abuse by social media.

Trivedi said there were some cases where fraudsters used to pose themselves as debit or credit card company representatives and called people asking the details of cards. Most of the time, in such cases cards were used in online shopping, mobile recharge and online bill payments. 

She added, “There were cases of hacking and fake accounts on social networking site. In such cases precaution should be taken on part of the account users and if something doubtful is found they should inform the cyber crime cell.”

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Source: Secondary

Most common cyber crime: Net banking fraud

GURGAON: Higher internet connectivity in Millennium City has also given cyber crimes a bigger playing field. Of the total 759 cases of online crime recorded in the past year by the police, 248 were related to bank fraud, making it the most common among cyber crime cases registered by the police.

According to data released on Saturday, a total of 759 complaints in the past year have kept the cyber crime cell busy. Of these, 248 are related to net banking/credit/debit card fraud, followed by 72 cases of abuse on social networking sites, 68 cases of email ID hacking and 59 complaints of SMS and call abuse.

Increased number of complaints on abuse on the internet led the police to inaugurate a new cyber crime cell in the city earlier this year. Officials blame the alarming numbers on advanced technological expertise and ease of access to information. "Unlike in the preceding years, this year the number of net banking-related crimes have surpassed social media-related complaints. The vulnerability of credit and debit cards and net banking has made it easy for criminals who are just a click away from easy money. They are difficult to investigate and this is why some of the most trying cases this year belong to this category," an officer of the cyber crime cell said.

Yet, it was this year that Inspector Suresh Kumar, head of the cyber crime cell, was adjudged cyber cop of year for his work on cases of online banking fraud. Under his leadership, the department continues to spread awareness on how to beat web criminals.

The cell has approached the problem by taking students into the loop and conducting awareness drives, since they are some of the most frequent users of the Internet and easiest targets.

Complaints received

Hacking of E-mail ID: 68

Defamatory / Offensive emails: 39

Phishing/Anonymous Mails: 07

Facebook Related Complaints: 72

Twitter Related Complaints: 02

Website Hacking: 03

Fake Website: 11

Lottery Fraud: 06

Net Banking/ Credit/Debit Card Fraud: 248

Fraud/ Cheating Through Internet: 64

Forgery through Computer: 01

Cheating Through Mobile: 32

ID Theft through Internet: 10

Posting Personal Information on Internet: 13

Data Theft: 22

Abusive/Offensive/Obscene calls & SMSes: 59

Sexual Harassment/Pornography: 07

Miscellaneous Complaints: 95

Protect yourself from Identity Theft. Visit www.cibilconsultants.com

Source: Secondary

How to keep your credit card safe online

RAIPUR: With hacking of Facebook, Gmail and other networking websites on rise, threat of credit card/debit card bank accounts also being hacked looms large in state. Online shopping has further increased this threat.

Monendra Sahu, an ethical hacker said, "For hackers, carding, which refers to credit card/debit card fraud is the new duplicity that has made significant rise in state. Hackers have been using credit card/debit card numbers of people to carry out financial transactions for their personal benefits".

Online shopping/banking by users provides the easiest way for hackers to swindle money. "Whenever a user buys anything from the website, he enters his card details to make payment. This becomes an easy gateway for the hacker to trace card details and he gets access to all users who have used that website, by hacking it." Monendra said.

"It has also been observed that the hacker traces around 1000 or even more credit card/debit card numbers and carries out his transaction withdrawing around Rs 4000-5000 from each account. However, this risk is a bit lesser in an online bank account as in this; the user directly enters the bank website."

In fact, with new techniques coming in, hackers have even evolved a technique of scheming, in which they implant a device in the ATM machine or the POS portal and get card details. "A device which can be stuck with Fevikwik, is used by the hackers. It becomes difficult to differentiate between the device and ATM machine."

"Majorly, in the old ATM machines, which can be easily opened from back-side, hackers can easily process it by a pen-drive. It's easier to open the machine and inject a processed pen-drive which will take the card details of users who have carried out their transaction throughout the day. However the newly developed machines aren't much vulnerable," he added.

"Hackers try to use cyber cafes, where they can get in touch with a large number of users and with an open wi-fi connection which it make things easier for them," he added.

Users guide

* Change the pin of ATM card after getting the pin. Try to have a locked Wi-fi network however LAN cable would be even more secure.

* Stop using free anti-virus.

* Always use updated system for your laptop/computer.

* Use websites with HTTPS communication protocol which give encrypted password.

Protect yourself from Identity Theft. Visit www.cibilconsultants.com

Source: Secondary

Most Cyber Criminals are Among Youth, Shows Data

Nearly 60 per cent of those arrested for the cyber crimes- hacking, obscene publications and forgery, among others —- belong to the age group of 18-30 years, data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show.

According to NCRB, between 2008 and 2011, 1,184 persons were arrested for various cyber crimes, which are on the rise.

"Most offenders belong to the younger generation. They are more aware of the ways and means through which they can exploit cyber space and come from a variety of backgrounds," Additional Deputy Commissioner (Economic Offences Wing) S D Mishra said.

The records also show that hacking cases have increased substantially over the period, from 56 to 826 cases. Half of those arrested in these cases were in the 18-30 age group.

Hacking is not defined in the IT Act, 2000, but falls under Section 66 of Computer Related offences, which carries a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment.

Cases under obscene publications climbed to 496 cases in 2011, with 63.6 per cent of offenders from the same age group. This offence also carries a three-year imprisonment term.

"While cases related to obscene publications have risen, the important thing to note is that none of these cases were related to child pornography," Mishra said.

Forgery cases rose by over 400 per cent between 2008 and 2011, the NCRB data has revealed.

"There are a surge in the number of reported cases over the years because people are becoming more aware of these things. More number of people are reporting these crimes, especially in instances where there was a financial loss," he said.

Mishra said most cases registered dealt with internet banking and credit card frauds.

"Cyber investigations are often inhibited if offenders are working from an overseas location. This leads to jurisdiction issues and we are unable to get information from a foreign Internet service provider. But we have a full-fledged forensics lab with the latest equipment to handle such matters," Mishra said.

In cases which demand expertise in a particular encryption code or a unique data storage system, law enforcement agencies often use the services of private security firms such as Pyramid Cyber Security & Forensics, which specialises in solving such cases.

"Cooperation between countries become crucial in such cases," Managing Director of Pyramid Cyber Security & Forensics Alok Gupta said, referring to an agency called IMPACT (International Multilateral Partnership against Cyber Crime). IMPACT, a not-for-profit organisation with 195 member countries, acts as the cyber security arm of the United Nations and helps in countering cyber threats.

"Cyber crime cases are sensitive subjects. Not everyone would like to openly speak or admit that such a crime has taken place. If, for example, a bank was to report a cyber crime, the customers will be apprehensive about putting their money there," Gupta said.

According to Gupta, malware without signatures, cloud adoption and mobile devices like cell phones are what pose a threat to cyber security.

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Source: Secondary