Online Scams

& Frauds

Quick Heal Technologies Private Limited

In The News – Last 10 Days
 A Hyderabad-based industrialist has been  Cyber cell of Lucknow police arrested two
tricked into parting with Rs. 1.48 crore after members of an online job fraud gang to which
some online fraudsters lured him with fictitious at least 15 persons have fallen prey.
prize money of million pound sterling's. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Two-arrested-for-duping-on-fake-
job-site/articleshow/46751280.cms
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/online-fraud-industrialist-
duped-of-rs-148-cr/article7055501.ece

 Pune Police arrested three men for allegedly

duping 26 software engineers of over Rs 1.05
crore in an online scam that claimed to offer
cheap flats.
• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/3-held-for-duping-26-techies-in-
online-housing-scam/articleshow/46801654.cms
A Brief Background – Online Fraud

 The use of Internet services or software with

Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise
take advantage of them; for example, by stealing
personal information, which can even lead to
identity theft.

 Indian Government reported a 40% increase in

online fraud cases in December 2014.

Don Hankins / Foter / CC BY

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23905174@N00/2524306151/
Always Remember...
 Scammers & Fraudsters will often try to rush
you into a decision, offering you a limited
'very attractive' opportunity.

 If a scam exists in the real world but it’s not

yet on the Internet, just wait for two hours;
it’ll be there.
Why is Internet A
Lucrative Business for
Scammers & Fraudsters?

Quick Heal Technologies Private Limited

Internet - A Lucrative Business For
Scammers
• Rapid growth & daily influx of new &
unaware users

 There are around 3 billion Internet Users

World Wide. (40% of the World Population)

 Studies suggest, 8 new Internet users are

added every second worldwide.

 These are the ‘potential victims’.

Internet - A Lucrative Business For
Scammers
• Hidden Identity

 It is easy to maintain anonymity on the

Internet.

 Fake user accounts, photographs &

incorrect location details can be easily
furnished in the online world.

 1 out of every 10 profiles across the Internet

is fake.
Internet - A Lucrative Business For
Scammers
• Virtual Actions

 Every action that needs to be taken, can be

done from the comforts of home behind the
computer screen.

 Knives and pistols are replaced by keyboards

and mouse.

jurvetson / Foter / CC BY
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/8523574500/
Internet - A Lucrative Business For
Scammers
• Cost’s Involved

 Internet connection – Easily affordable

 E-mail – Free most of the times

 Social profiles – Free

 Maintaining Websites – Easily affordable

Some Popular
Online Scams

Quick Heal Technologies Private Limited

Popular Online Scams
 Fake ads on online classifieds or auction websites

 WhatsApp Calling Invitation Scam

 LinkedIn Phishing Email Scam

 Work From Home Scam

 Nigerian Fraud

 Online Romance Scams

Fake ads on online classifieds or auction
websites

 Scammers list high value goods such as

luxury car at very low prices

 They demand some form of processing

payment in a rather smooth way to the
inquiries

 Once the initial ‘registration’ money has

been paid, the fake sellers and scammers
stop responding to all emails and calls
WhatsApp Calling Invitation Scam
 A message is circulating in the WhatsApp
community that goes “Hey, I am inviting
you to try Whatsapp calling click here to
activate now -

http://WhatsappCalling.com"
WhatsApp Calling Invitation Scam
 The link takes the user to a page where you
have to invite 10 friends before they can
start using the feature
WhatsApp Calling Invitation Scam
 Once users are done inviting 10 users, the
‘Continue’ button is enabled. Clicking on it,
takes the users to a page where they are
asked to complete a survey
WhatsApp Calling Invitation Scam
 Clicking on the 'Take Survey' button
redirects the users to another page that
asks you to download an app

 If you proceed further and download the

app as asked, you won’t be getting the
WhatsApp calling feature. By following all
the steps mentioned above, you will have
only helped the scammer earn money
LinkedIn Phishing Email Scam
 LinkedIn users reported about receiving
emails that seem to be from LinkedIn
support

 The recipient is informed about “irregular

activities” in their account, because of which
a compulsory security update is required

 The user is advised to download an HTML

file (attached in the email)
LinkedIn Phishing Email Scam
 If you click the HTML file, it will redirect
you to a fake website that looks like the
actual LinkedIn login page

 Any login information you give on this

page will be transmitted directly to the
attacker, who will then hijack your
account
Work From Home Scam
 Work from home scams are mostly linked to
people who are unemployed and look for
jobs

 Job postings are placed on social networks,

emails and other websites

 On clicking the job posting, the visitor is

directed to a page demanding some
amount as a registration fee

 What happens next ? - We all Know ! A

Scam!
Nigerian Fraud

 Nigerian Fraud is an organized crime mainly

executed via e-mail.

 Nigeria Fraud mails comprise about 7% of the

spam mails world wide

 Victims have lost 12.7 billion dollars to Nigerian

Scams Globally

 Indians top in the victims list losing $870 million

to Nigerian Fraud Yearly

Gtasahomo2 / Foter / CC BY
https://www.flickr.com/photos/trixieroxxx/5582739056/
Nigerian Fraud
 Victims are assured to get an unbelievably large sum of money
Nigerian Fraud
 And then, they try to gain trust & send feelers to the victim.
Nigerian Fraud
 Victims on reply are asked to pay a sum
upfront to facilitate the transfer

 Once the sum is paid, scammers are out of

contact & out of reach

 Scam successful!
Online Romance Scams
 Dating and romance scams try to lower
your defenses by appealing to your
romantic or compassionate side

 They play on emotional triggers to get the

victim shell out money, gifts or personal
details

 Scammers target victims by creating fake

profiles on Internet dating / social media
sites

 To gain the victim’s trust, scammers go to

great extents such as sharing personal
information & giving gifts

 Scammers often take months or even years

to build what seems to be an authentic
online relationship
Online Romance Scams
Once trust is established, scammers
ask victims for money for various
reasons such as :

• An family member

• Repaying debts/loan

• Setting up a business
Online Romance Scams
 Needless to say, scammers vanish once
they get what they seek

 In addition to financial losses, victims may

suffer from depression & other mental
issues
Some Actions & Reactions
Against Online Scams

Quick Heal Technologies Private Limited

Some Actions & Reactions

Never Give Out

 Your name
 Your address
 Your phone number
 Your birthday
 Your school name
 Any other personal/contact information

Every time you give away such information,

you end up compromising your privacy.
Some Actions & Reactions
Never Give Out Your Passwords to Anyone

Passwords are:
• Valuable pieces of information
• Can allow someone to access your email
• Can allow access to your bank accounts, credit
cards etc.

No legitimate website or person would ever ask

you for passwords.
Some Actions & Reactions
 Always check your credit card statements for any discrepancy.

 Block or immediately change your banking passwords/pins if you observe any doubtful
transaction.

 Report the discrepancy to your bank immediately.

 Contact the Cyber Crime cell or your local law enforcement authority.
How Can Quick Heal Help
Quick Heal Khareedo Gaadi Jeeto Contest
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Thank You!
References
 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/online-fraud-industrialist-duped-of-rs-148-cr/article7055501.ece
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/3-held-for-duping-26-techies-in-online-housing-scam/articleshow/46801654.cms
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Two-arrested-for-duping-on-fake-job-site/articleshow/46751280.cms
 http://blogs.quickheal.com/wp/scam-alert-fake-sellers-quikr-olx/
 http://blogs.quickheal.com/wp/beware-of-the-whatsapp-calling-invitation-scam/
 http://blogs.quickheal.com/wp/linkedin-phishing-email-scam-alert/