Digital Fraud in India: Latest Scams and Prevention Tips

Digital fraud in India is increasingly sophisticated, prompting Google to release a new advisory aimed at raising awareness about contemporary online scams affecting users. The tech giant is bolstering its Trust & Safety initiatives to combat scams that exploit AI-generated materials, deceptive investment opportunities, and exploitative lending applications. As cybercriminals constantly enhance their tactics, Google advises users to maintain a proactive stance and implement security measures to protect their online presence.

Emerging Scam Trends in India

1. Exploiting Major Events for Fraud

Scammers are taking advantage of festive and cultural occasions such as Diwali, Navratri, and Dussehra, deceiving individuals with bogus donation drives and illegitimate travel offers. Utilizing AI-powered methods, they produce realistic-looking fake websites that mimic trusted sources.

Safety Tip: Always authenticate donation websites and make travel reservations solely through official channels. Before clicking unfamiliar links, scrutinise the URL and utilise Google’s “About this result” feature for further validation.

2. AI-Generated Celebrity Investment Scams

Fraudsters are increasingly employing AI-generated deepfake videos and false news stories featuring celebrities to endorse shady investment schemes, especially in cryptocurrency and stock markets.

Safety Tip: Exercise caution regarding investment tips from celebrities on social media platforms. Be aware of unnatural facial expressions in videos, which might suggest AI tampering. Investments that promise high returns with little risk are likely fraudulent.

3. Fake E-Commerce and Travel Booking Scams

Scammers create imitation websites that replicate well-known shopping and travel sites, particularly during festival sales and religious pilgrimage durations. These schemes often exploit UPI payment systems to entice victims into fraudulent purchases.

Safety Tip: Prior to making any online transactions, confirm website URLs, look for security markers, and avoid offers that appear excessively enticing. Google’s “My Ad Center” enables users to identify advertisers and report misleading advertisements.

4. Remote Access Tech Support Fraud

Fraudsters masquerade as technicians from banks, government bodies, or major tech companies, insisting they need to resolve security issues on users’ devices. They deceive victims into granting remote entry, culminating in data theft.

Safety Tip: Refrain from permitting remote access to your device based on unexpected calls or texts. Always contact the company via their official support channels. Implementing Two-Step Verification (2SV) and passkeys can enhance security.

5. Job Scams with Unrealistic Offers

Scammers target individuals seeking employment with enticing remote job offers that often require upfront payments or financial transactions. These fraudulent roles are circulated on social media and job-search platforms, making detection more difficult.

Safety Tip: Remain wary of job propositions that promise high salaries with minimal effort. Genuine employers do not request payments during recruitment. Always check job entries through legitimate company websites.

6. Predatory Loan Apps and Financial Fraud

Fraudulent instant-loan applications guarantee rapid approvals with minimal paperwork, yet ensnare users with exorbitant interest rates and harassment. These platforms frequently solicit access to contacts, photos, and sensitive personal information, which criminals exploit for extortion.

Safety Tip: Only engage with licensed financial organisations for loans. If an application requests unnecessary permissions, refrain from downloading it. Users can report questionable applications on Google Play to aid in fraud prevention.