With all the media glare on the digital arrests and consequent efforts by the government and others, one is forced to think that it was more of a psychological issue rather than anything else. The lack of understanding of the system of people who have it, directly or indirectly, makes it all the more intriguing. Might be it also speaks of the police and investigative agencies that people are ready to do anything not to fall in their trap. Does it also mean that all have something to hide and hence they fall in this trap. Does it also mean that there is rampant corruption in investigative agencies and so they find it easy to believe and the victim falls in this trap. One more outstanding aspect of this crime is the quantum one is able to loot just by conning his way through.
The digital system which fails us day in and day out, seems to have gained currency to a level where there is no validation required and has to be taken as the gospel truth. People who have so much faith in the digital system could have used the same system to cross verify. The globally number one WhatsApp University has transformed it all after it outbeat Encyclopedia Britannica hollow. In one the most recent of the cases of mega digital arrest loot is the case of a retired Colonel and his wife losing Rs.3.4 crores. He is 84 years of age, When he realised he was scammed he went to the cyber crime police station in Chandigarh and got the case registered.
The story once again deals with the Naresh Goyal case. This case provides the solemn backdrop for swindling you. A call from an unknown number speaks of the victim being involved in a money laundering case. The scammer claimed that Col. Bajwa had allegedly sold his bank account details to Naresh Goyal, the jailed owner of Jet Airways for Rs.5 lakhs. The scammer went on to say that he had received an additional Rs. 20 lakhs as commission for laundering Rs.2 crore. Col. Bajwa was shown an ATM card over the video call and the scammer claimed to be investigating the Rs.5,038 scam. They also shared photos of 24 such victims.
To make the story look full proof, the fraudsters stated the Supreme Court had issued an arrest against him. Because of his inability to travel the scamsters assured that an online enquiry could be arranged. They also asked 15 questions related to Naresh Goyal’s case. On this count, he was threatened that they would go to public and damage his reputation in a big way. He and his wife were put under digital arrest for 10 days. The scamsters switched over to his wife to make more money. To make the whole exercise look authentic fabricated arrest warrants and account-freezing notices are shown. The video call was kept on for 24 hours.
HAVE CRIMINALS MASTERED SOCIAL ENGINEERING TO THEIR OWN ADVANTAGE?
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.