“Scam 2023: Banking Scams

Scams, Scams, Scams!

Scammers have become a major annoyance in recent times. I must confess that I even fell for one myself, but that’s a story for another time. Prior to that incident, scams were already causing me quite a bit of trouble. Occasionally, I used to share stories of these scams on my WhatsApp status.

These days, scams are everywhere, especially with the rise of online activities. It’s like navigating through a jungle, and we need to be constantly on guard. That’s why I’m writing about scams — to keep you informed and help you protect yourself from falling into their cunning traps.

Forget about those outdated Ponzi schemes and chit funds; they’re a thing of the past. The scammers of today are all about online deception. It’s their latest trend, and trust me, it’s no easy task. However, the rewards they reap from it can be massive, sometimes even in the millions.

Exploring 21st Century Online Money Scams

Who are they?

These scammers, are not some distant strangers. They walk among us, blending into the crowd. They are everywhere, lurking in the shadows, with one goal in mind — to get their hands on your hard-earned money. They have no moral compass, no cultural values, and certainly no standards to abide by. It’s a ruthless world they operate in, where deceit and greed reign supreme. So, stay vigilant and don’t let these money-hungry wolves take advantage of you.

This is not a one-person operation; it’s a massive network working behind the scenes. It involves individuals from various walks of life, and I even suspect that high-profile figures such as celebrities, politicians, big businessmen, and even some tech-savvy individuals are involved. It’s disheartening to think that those in positions of power and authority might be part of this. Let’s not forget the role of bankers who facilitate these fraudulent activities by allowing accounts to be registered with fake or missing documents.

These tech-savvy fraudsters leverage their knowledge of coding, cybersecurity, and digital systems to develop sophisticated techniques that make their scams more difficult to detect and trace. They exploit vulnerabilities in online platforms, create fake websites, manipulate data, and employ various other tactics to deceive unsuspecting individuals.

How do they deceive us?

These scammers are quite crafty and cunning in their approach. They may initiate contact with us, posing as bankers, friends, HR personnel offering job opportunities, freelancers, individuals in desperate need of financial help, or even NGO workers. However, it’s worth noting that sometimes we unintentionally reach out to them ourselves.

Their approach is designed to disarm us and make us feel comfortable. They will speak politely and may use endearing terms like “brother,” “sister,” or “sir/madam” in their messages/calls. Their level of English proficiency can vary, but they ensure that we understand and comply with their instructions. These scammers are skilled at manipulating our emotions and exploiting our trust.

**These observations are based on my own experiences and the stories I’ve heard from others.

It’s crucial to be cautious and skeptical, even when the conversation appears friendly and genuine.

Talking about different scams happening these days.

One common type of scam involves receiving calls or messages that appear to be from your bank, tricking you into providing sensitive information.

Personally, I’ve experienced a similar situation where I’ve received messages claiming that my bank account or ATM is on the verge of being blocked. These scammers try to create a sense of urgency, pressuring us to update our KYC details immediately. It’s quite frustrating how they play with our emotions, even going as far as setting deadlines to make us panic. To make matters worse, they may send the same message through both SMS and WhatsApp, ensuring that we don’t overlook it.

Recently, I received a message that caught my attention. It mentioned that my YONO Account would be blocked, and they provided a link to update my PAN card. I’ve even circled the link part in the screenshot below.

What are the issues here.

1. Weird link
2. The number from which the SMS is sent.
3. Asking for PAN card, instead of asking to update the KYC details

When I clicked on the provided URL, it directed me to the web page displayed below.

What is wrong in this image!!!

1. This whole screen is red.
2. It says Deceptive site ahead.
3. It has a button saying, “Back to Safety”.
4. If you read it carefully, it strongly suggests that this website is dangerous, and it’s best not to proceed.

If our community has already reported about such sites, you’ll be fortunate to see this page and be cautious.

To investigate their methods of deception, I proceeded by clicking on “Details”.

What are the issues here.

These are two different screenshots, please see the time in the screen shots.

1. Based on my understanding, the captcha should change for every session or request. However, the captcha displayed here has remained the same.
2. Furthermore, the graphics/images on this page are not correctly positioned.
3. Additionally, the download app image depicted in the screenshot also failed to function properly, it was an image.

I am not asking for your verify all these aspects. However, I am sharing this information to provide you with an insight into the resemblance of fraudulent websites to genuine ones. It is worth mentioning that these deceptive sites are constantly improving and hiring professional website designers to create highly convincing replicas.

What are the issues here.

1. The Cursor here is too small.
2. They are asking for your mobile number.
3. Banking sites, either shows the last 4 digits of your mobile number and then asks for that same number or they do not ask them at all.

This way they were capturing your username, password and your mobile number, which is enough to get your money out.

If you receive scam messages stating that your bank account will be blocked, KYC is pending, or the ATM is not working, it’s important to verify the authenticity of such messages. To do so, contact your bank directly or reach out to their customer care. Avoid clicking on any links provided in the message. Instead, refer to your ATM card for the customer service number and give them a call. Alternatively, you can visit your bank in person. The bank personnel are there to assist you and provide accurate information in case there are any issues or concerns with your account or ATM.