Search smart – avoid online information traps 🤕

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Dear Anita Kubhar,

With the advent of the digital era, cyber frauds are on the rise with fraudsters finding ways to lure you into getting away with your hard-earned money. Protect yourself from falling prey to any of these frauds:

Search Engine
Fraud

Sometimes, when you are looking for information, you may search online for details. You may come across fake results via ads, links leading to fake websites, and contact numbers.

You may end up calling the fake number of 'click on' links on the fake sites. The fraudster will then lure you with details, offers, easy and fast resolutions, offer refunds, convenience at your doorstep, etc. They will then find ways into getting you to share your Banking/personal details.

Always visit the official website when looking for help and look for the padlock sign or 'https' in the status bar of genuine official websites.

Narcotics/
Customs Fraud

Fraudsters posing as Narcotics Team/Cyber Cell/Customs will contact you and claim that they are in receipt of a courier containing illegal items in your name!

Claiming the case to be in police custody, they will scare you by asking you to join a video call where they impersonate a police station set up and claim that you are under digital arrest.

Then to evade legal proceedings, they ask you to transfer funds in to their accounts in lieu of verifying that the money is not obtained from ill means.

Being held by fear you will end up falling prey to the fraudster's trap and transfer funds into their account.

Be careful and do not panic. Verify with your nearest police station, as such sensitive scenarios won't be addressed to you over a phone call.

Job Fraud

The fraudster will contact you via a social media platform regarding a part-time job opportunity.

Typical tasks, for instance to like or comment a YouTube video or review hotels etc. is offered to you. They may also send a small amount to win your trust.

The fraudster then asks you to invest some amount for high value tasks to get high returns. This high value returns/balance will be shown through the fake link/app so victims believe that they have high value returns/balance in the link/e-wallet for completing the next level of tasks.

The fraudster will convince you to take a last task to withdraw the money, else the money invested will be forfeited. Remember, anyone asking you to pay an amount upfront for a job offer should be ignored and/or reported to the right authorities.

Investment/
Trading Fraud

The fraudster will share attractive advertisements through a social media platform about free online trading tips or investment schemes with unusually high returns/profits in a short period of time! They may also offer training courses on trading to entice you.

Once you connect with the fraudster, they will first add you to a WhatsApp/Telegram group, and then convince you to download a fake stock trading app.

Once you download and start investing on the fake app, a fake dashboard shows you high returns luring you to invest even more. However, when you try to withdraw the money, you notice that you have fallen prey to this fraud.

Stay alert, and download verified apps. Do not click on links received from unknown people.

CLICK HERE

to read more on Safe Banking tips.

Points to remember

Please do not respond to fraudulent emails, SMS, or calls that ask you for passwords, MPIN, UPI PIN, OTP, or Debit/Credit Card numbers. Kotak Mahindra Bank or its employees/representatives will never ask for your personal account information

Do not click on links sent to you from unknown source(s)

To report a fraud, call 1800 209 0000 and say 'fraud', or click here, or call 1930 to report any cybercrime or visit the cybercrime website - www.cybercrime.gov.in