Improved Technology Increases Vulnerability To Cyber Crime, Cops

Technology has made life easier for all, but this has also increased vulnerability to cyber crime. For instance, with smartphones and easy accessibility of the internet on it, Thane cyber crime cell has seen an increase in cyber crimes.

Cyber crime includes crime done through mobile phones, social networking sites, credit and debit card transaction.

On the condition of anonymity, an officer from cyber cell said, "Though the internet was introduced to minimise time, today many people are misusing it. With young children getting access to smartphones easily, they start surfing various sites and in turn indulge in unlawful activities."

"Parents should not give mobile phones to kids unless there is some emergency," he adds.

Specifying the types of crime committed through the internet, he says, "Facebook and bank fraud casea are on the rise. People make fake profile and then lure someone for cash and for other purposes. Crimes through WhatsApp and other software are, however, very less."
                 

He added, "There was a juvenile boy who used to call on unknown number and when we identified him he accepted watching porn clips on his father's cell phone. As his father was not tech savvy, he was not aware of what his son was up to. The matter came to light when one day this boy called a random girl and asked her for sexual favours. The girl approached the police and got the boy arrested. He was later sent to remand home."

Deputy commissioner of police (cyber cell) Sudhakar Pathares said, "The cases have increased in the last three years. By the time we come up with an efficient way of detecting the culprits, they come up with the new a tactic. We are trying to curb such activities, but technology is growing at a faster rate and it is not easy to control them."

He added, "We have tracked so many cases and are trying to minimise cyber crimes, but with changing technology and new software it's a challenge. For instance, on WhatsApp allows you to seen when the person was last seen. This helps us detect some cases."


To learn about Identity theft, visit- www.cibilconsultants.com
Source: Secondary

Be Smarter Than Technology, If Want to Defeat Cyber Crime

Information Technology(IT) is the driving force of almost all industry. Global markets and business are dependent on this huge and vast world of unseen intelligent radio waves which is practically running our lives today.

Think about those times when there was hardly anything called the internet, networking, mobile, Wi-Fi, GPS, GPRS, Cloud etc a whole new world around us so called virtual real world, in a nutshell IT has given a all new meaning to this global civilization.

Today no more distances matters neither time, with the ever growing technology the focus is getting sharper and clearer, we are one world, every one of us is under one roof, we are connected now.

Discovery of any new earth shattering innovations brings certain disturbances too. We the intelligent minds who thrive and drive our lives today primarily on technology are we safe enough? Do we really always thank this unseen intelligent friend or sometimes this friend gives us real problems?

Yes it does, with the ever increasing tools of communication we get more and more vulnerable to access, today saying hi to someone at north pole is as simple as knocking your next door neighbor. World today is enjoying the advancement of IT but along with that is also facing a battle against piracy and duplicity or rather cyber crime.

Countries across the world are setting up cyber laws to check crime but how effective are these laws are? Or is the thief smarter than the law?

We need to realize and counter this new wave of crime through the unseen radio waves, with the ever growing technology we are doomed to face new challenges but to balance a smart technology you have to be smarter.

Crime Files brings to light the growing online lottery frauds which is getting visible day by day with increase in cases registered. On a normal mail box you will find thousand of offers including strange messages. 

This same format is also used via mobile SMSs Such messages might not work or may not be able to fool people at large but, yes still there are people from small town who get trapped in this net or racket of cheaters and land up paying money in the name of huge gift.
To learn about identity theft, visit www.cibilconsultants.com

Source: Secondary

Beware! Identity Theft can ruin your reputation !

One out of every five people worldwide is on a social networking website and your identity and reputation are at RISK without you knowing it!

Technology makes our lives more convenient! But with increasing convenience and information flow, it also makes us vulnerable. Growing urban population and ever evolving technology poses a challenge and makes fighting cyber crimes and imperative. 

Our personal information e.g. name, date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, email IDs etc as well as sensitive financial information is pervasive and can be easily accessible online and offline.

And it is not difficult to foresee how such easily available information, can be used to commit the simplest form of identity theft and fraud, such as pretending to be someone else and taking a mobile phone connection, or opening a social network profile or even re-directing someone bank and card statements and bills to another address. And the internet makes access to personal and financial information simpler!

One out of every five people worldwide, are on a social networking website. With internet penetration in India crossing the landmark 100 million mark, Indian netizens are hopping onto them as well with equal gusto. Facebook, Linkedin, Google+, Orkut are pervasive today, especially amongst the young educated population of India. And it is an established trend for people to take risks online. 

People often play with their online identities in a manner that they would never dream of, in the real world and this puts them at RISK for identity and online reputation thefts – says Asgar Patel victim of online reputation slander and he added – Beware yourself of too much online exposure.

For those uninitiated on how ID theft can happen, in the online world there are numerous website where your personal information is lying without your knowledge and in less secure environments, for fraudsters to misuse it, to their advantage. From crude methods to well organised scams, identity theft, online reputation slander works in a range of ways.

Taking a case in point, wedding is a big business proposition in India. Burgeoning Matrimonial websites in India have a have great business potential, however, these websites are a goldmine of personal information and most members might find themselves becoming victims of Identity thieves and fraudsters. Matrimonial websites tend to attract young men and women across the country and users create personal profile replete with information based on nationality, age, gender, religion, economic standard, job status, height, family background, and photograph. With this sensitive personal information, fraudsters can cause considerable damage be it to damage someone’s reputation or financially by buying a phone connection or procuring a credit card pretending to be someone else, with the information they have access to. 

And the victim would not know about it until it’s too late! As per a news article, an accused terrorist confessed to have obtained SIM cards with forged papers created by gathering information on a matrimonial website. Stealing an identity is, unfortunately, surprisingly easy to do and happens when one least expects it! Protecting oneself is therefore very important. 

If someone’s identity is stolen, it can take months or even years to recover from the disorder they leave behind. The number of new cases of identity theft is on the rise. This relatively new trend is the result of internet’s influence, by easing access to sensitive personal information.

>> There are 112 million claimed Internet users in India, source ComScore; Internet in India, 2011

>> Credit and Debit cards can be applied for in the name of another individual

>> Fraudulent bank loans could be taken out in the name of the victim

>> Phone connections can be taken to carry out forgery and other frauds

>> A multiple range of debts can be incurred in victim’s name

>> Email ids and social networks profiles can be created using false information

>> The information can be used in various illegal activities in victim’s name

>> Illegal acts can be performed by applying for new driver’s licenses or passport

CPP offers these warnings to help people stay safe and protect themselves. Most identity theft victims don’t come to know of the fraud until long after the incident. They dismiss possible indicators as mistakes or mix-ups and take no corrective measures like:

Unexpected verification call from a bank or a service provider

>> A warning or notice from a bank or service provider

>> Unexplained entries in your Credit Report

>> Debit of small amounts in bank statements

>> Unfamiliar purchases in your card statement

>> Receiving a statement or bill for a service you don’t have

Act Fast or Get to the Point Of No Return:

>> Do not disclose your personal details beyond what is essential, online or on social networks.

>> Do not respond to suspicious emails asking for your personal details and never disclose your bank, credit/debit card details and PIN numbers to anybody online or offline.

>> There are 112 million claimed Internet users in India

>> Ensure you use adequate updated antivirus software.

>> If you receive a request from a friend or family member stranded while on holiday asking you to transfer money to them, contact them by phone or alternative contact to verify the request is genuine before sending any money or providing personal details.

>> Regularly check your credit card and/or bank statements to ensure that suspicious transactions are detected.

>> Shred all documents containing personal information, such as credit card and bank statements.

>> Log directly onto websites you are interested in rather than clicking on links provided

in an email.

>> Read your credit report from time to time to track any suspicious changes.

Identity theft can have grave, sometimes devastating repercussions for its victims, ranging from financial loss, damaged credit ratings to loss of reputation. In a time when more and more information is being shared online, the security of personal information is very important. 

Be careful with your personal information, since becoming a victim of identity theft can take months and even years to straighten out!

Learn more about identity theft at www.cibilconsultants.com