Scam Alert: Cybercriminals are adopting new methods, hacking bank accounts without sharing OTP; you can stay safe like this..

Cybercriminals have now invented new tricks to steal money. They no longer need OTP (One Time Password) or ATM PIN. They simply send messages that appear to be from the bank. It contains fake links. As soon as someone clicks on that link, money is stolen from his account. There is no need for OTP in this.

These scammers often collect personal data from places where people have shared their phone numbers. Then they send messages related to recent purchases. If someone clicks on that link, his money is stolen immediately.

According to an NDTV report, recently, a 26-year-old woman from New Delhi bought an HP laptop from Croma. A few days later, she received a message from an unknown number that she had won a voucher. The message said that to claim the voucher, she would have to share personal details on a link, which also included bank details.

But the woman became suspicious of this message. Because there was a mistake in the message. The message mentioned both Croma and Vijay Sales and said that the voucher was won for shopping from Vijay Sales. This mistake alerted her and she avoided a potential scam.

How to stay safe from such scams?

Beware of unsolicited calls and messages.

Never share sensitive information with unknown people.

Do not click on suspicious links, even if they promise vouchers, discounts, or cash prizes.

Do not install apps from unverified sources, as this can give scammers access to your device's camera and photo gallery. These are often used for KYC verification.

If you get a strange call, verify the identity of the caller through official channels.

Let us tell you that apart from phishing links, scammers are also using advanced methods like call merging, call forwarding, voice mail scams, QR code fraud, and screen sharing nowadays.

How does the call merging scam work?

In this scam, scammers call a person, such as a media professional, pretend to be an acquaintance, and invite him to cover an event. At the same time, the victim receives another call from an unknown number. The fraudster claims that the second call is from a VIP number and asks the victim to merge both calls.

Once the calls are merged, the fraudster calmly captures the OTP sent through the call from banks or apps (such as WhatsApp and Facebook). They then hack accounts or steal money.

APK and RAT malware scams
Cybercriminals are now also using sophisticated Android application package (APK) files and remote access Trojans (RATs) to dupe users. According to a senior official, RATs and APKs allow hackers to remotely gain control over a user's device, without the user knowing.

In one such case, on May 21, the DSP of Hassan sub-division was duped at Rs 15.98 lakh. He installed an app from a National Bank. The app link was sent to him in a text message. The link contained an APK or RAT file. With the help of this file, hackers got access to his device.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.