NOB-Bharat news: In the wake of increasing reliance on online payments, it is imperative to raise awareness about such frauds. In fact, digital frauds are nothing new. Frauds were committed in the past by using fake sites or in the name of love. Now fraudsters are choosing new targets. They are getting into accounts without the victim’s knowledge by taking their login or card details. Cyber crimes are being committed easily with technologies like AI, generative technology, and automation. AI tools are creating millions of phishing emails, fake websites, and fraudulent messages in seconds. Digital arrest is a new type of cybercrime that is currently happening. Criminals threaten victims through video calls, pretending to be investigating officers. They extort money by threatening them with cases. If the victim clicks on any link or makes a call, their personal information is collected. Or they make them log in to a fake web page and steal details. According to a report, about 20 lakh cybercrimes were registered in 2024. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center estimates that the loss this year could exceed Rs. 1.2 lakh crore. Fraudsters send ‘Request Money’ alerts claiming UPI refunds, gifts, or an emergency. They send fake codes that allow you to scan a QR code and get money. If the code is scanned, the money is deducted from the account instead of being credited. Many people do not know that QR codes are only for sending money, not receiving it. This is what fraudsters are exploiting. Fake apps are being created that resemble popular platforms like Google Pay and PhonePe. These are mostly found in unofficial app stores or in misleading advertisements. Sensitive information is stolen through these. Apps should be downloaded from trusted stores like Google Play and Apple App Store. Messages are sent through SMS, email, and WhatsApp that pretend to come from banks, government agencies, or payment institutions. When the link in the message is clicked, a fake login page opens. Once the details are provided, the information is stolen. Fraudsters create fake payment pages to trick users into entering card details, OTPs, and UPI PINs. Unauthorized purchases are made with those details. Merchant on boarding fraud has also increased. In this method, scammers pretend to be genuine merchants and join payment gateways with fake documents. They make fraudulent transactions or money laundering with stolen credit cards. This includes creating businesses using other people’s identities, opening accounts and making fraudulent purchases and disappearing. Digital arrest frauds are now a new trend. In this method, victims receive video calls. The other people claim to be police officers. They scare you that a case has been registered against you for crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking or tax evasion. They pressure you to send money to get out of the case. If some IT experts have also been victims of digital arrest, you can understand how cunning the fraudsters are. To stay safe in the era of digital payments, we need to understand how fraudsters exploit our weaknesses. They deceive us by promising huge profits or by pretending to be officials and scare us. Raising awareness is essential to protect ourselves from these. If you receive a suspicious call, message or video chat, hang up immediately. Contact your bank or file a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Increase your digital security by turning on two-factor authentication, not clicking on suspicious links, checking your bank statements frequently, and using strong passwords. Many payment security companies are now using AI-based fraud detection systems. Only trust information from official bank websites, merchant websites, verified customer care numbers, and emails.