Despite the increasing awareness of tech basics among people, the number of online scams have reached an all-time high. In the USA alone, more than 26,000 complaints have been registered, resulting in losses of $42,656,734.
These extensive scams are not confined to the USA; India has emerged as a new hub for scammers. Furthermore, they do not discriminate based on age, affecting not only boomers and millennials but also tech-savvy youth.
For a software engineer who falls victim to these scams, a disturbing scenario unfolds. A case in point comes from Bangalore, where a software engineer clicked on an Instagram ad related to a part-time job.
Upon applying, the woman was instructed to message a WhatsApp number and subsequently join a Telegram channel. Following these steps, she was directed to download an app and deposit money through UPI. After transferring around ₹10.5L, she came to the realization that she had fallen for a scam.
Instances like this underscore the contemporary challenges posed by cyber scams. Addressing these issues requires heightened awareness and concern, along with enhancements in platform advertising and security policies.
