Cybercrime is rapidly rising all over the world. Learn how victims are falling into traps for bank fraud or online scams. Watch this report to know more about cybercrime and online fraud.

Evolving cybercrime | How scammers purchase websites to steal your money

japanese police are investigating a series of violent robberies in which groups of strangers are recruited by shadowy masterminds on social media messaging services. Watch in for more details!

Online Recruitment Fuels Violent Crime Surge in Japan

Spanish police arrested five people on Monday (Sep 23) for scamming two women of 325,000 euros ($361,261) by posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt via online and WhatsApp messages.

The suspects made contact with the women via a fan page of the Oscar-winning actor and made them believe that “they had a sentimental relationship with him,” Spain’s Guardia Civil police said in a statement on Monday.

The members of the gang, posing as Pitt, allegedly encouraged the women to invest in various projects related to the Hollywood star that did not exist in real.

One woman, from the southern region of Andalusia, was defrauded of €175,000 ($195,000), while the other, from the northern Basque Country, lost €150,000 ($ 170,000).

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“The cybercriminals, to capture the victims, had studied their social networks and made a psychological profile of them, thus discovering that both women were two vulnerable people, lacking in affection and in a state of depression,” police said.

The fraudsters also used instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp to exchange messages and emails with the two women until they reached a point where they believed they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together.

Watch |&nbsp;Gen Z loses the most to online scams, report reveals

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The Spanish police arrested five people in the southern region of Andalusia, including suspected leaders of the gang.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police raided five homes in the area, as part of their operations, seizing several mobile phones, bank cards, two computers and even a diary full of careful and targeted phrases used by the fraudsters to deceive their victims.&nbsp;

Officers were able to recover €85,000 ($ 95,000) defrauded from the two women.

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In a similar online fraud case, an Australian man was arrested&nbsp;for posing as a famous YouTuber and blackmailing hundreds of girls online. The 29-year-old Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed manipulated over 250 victims around the globe into performing explicit acts on camera.&nbsp;

While sentencing Rasheed to 17 years in jail, a Perth District Court judge termed his at as "one of the most severe sextortion cases in the history of Australia."

(With inputs from agencies)

Spanish police arrested five people on Monday (Sep 23) for scamming two women of 325,000 euros ($361,261) by posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt via online and WhatsApp messages.

Spanish police arrested five people on Monday (Sep 23) for scamming two women of 325,000 euros ($361,261) by posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt via online and WhatsApp messages. The suspects made contact with the women via a fan page of the Oscar-winning actor and made them believe that “they had a sentimental relationship with him,” Spain’s Guardia Civil police said in a statement on Monday. The members of the gang, posing as Pitt, allegedly encouraged the women to invest in various projects related to the Hollywood star that did not exist in real. One woman, from the southern region of Andalusia, was defrauded of €175,000 ($195,000), while the other, from the northern Basque Country, lost €150,000 ($ 170,000). Also Read | Telegram to share 'bad' users' IP address, phone numbers to government authorities: CEO Durov “The cybercriminals, to capture the victims, had studied their social networks and made a psychological profile of them, thus discovering that both women were two vulnerable people, lacking in affection and in a state of depression,” police said. The fraudsters also used instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp to exchange messages and emails with the two women until they reached a point where they believed they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together. Watch | Gen Z loses the most to online scams, report reveals × The Spanish police arrested five people in the southern region of Andalusia, including suspected leaders of the gang. Police raided five homes in the area, as part of their operations, seizing several mobile phones, bank cards, two computers and even a diary full of careful and targeted phrases used by the fraudsters to deceive their victims. Officers were able to recover €85,000 ($ 95,000) defrauded from the two women. Also Read | California becomes latest US state to ban or restrict smartphones in schools In a similar online fraud case, an Australian man was arrested for posing as a famous YouTuber and blackmailing hundreds of girls online. The 29-year-old Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed manipulated over 250 victims around the globe into performing explicit acts on camera. While sentencing Rasheed to 17 years in jail, a Perth District Court judge termed his at as "one of the most severe sextortion cases in the history of Australia." (With inputs from agencies)

Spain: Police arrest five people for tricking women of $360,000 by posing as Brad Pitt

The Assam Police uncovered a scam of $26,18,495 on Wednesday, which includes brokers who made fake stock market investments, promising to double the invested amount.

The police have taken into custody a 22-year-old online trader residing in Dibrugarh and one&nbsp;Swapnil Das from Guwahati. More arrests are likely of&nbsp;those involved in the scam.

According to the police, Phukan persuaded people using his lavish lifestyle. He committed a 30% return on investment in just 60 days. He set up four companies, besides investing&nbsp;in the Assamese film industry&nbsp;and buying various properties.

Dipankar Burman, the owner of DB Stock Broking Company, has gone missing.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has advised people to be careful of fraudulent online stock market investments, even suggesting that schemes promising to double money with minimal effort are typically frauds.

“The promise of doubling your money with additional interest is a way of fraudsters. According to the law, no one is authorised to conduct stock broking in such a deceptive manner. They (certain apps) are completely unlawful. Today, the police have acted, and they will intensify it in the future. There is a proper procedure for engaging in stock broking—such as opening a Demat account. These apps should be ignored. They lure people with attractive returns initially and then scam them. So, please stay away from these," Sarma said.

In Dibrugarh, police searched Phukan’s home in Pradhanjalee Residency, discovering various documents related to the scam. Authorities are also looking for Assamese choreographer Sumi Borah, who is believed to be connected to Phukan’s network

The Assam Police uncovered a scam of $26,18,495 on Wednesday, which includes brokers who made fake stock market investments, promising to double the invested amount.

The Assam Police uncovered a scam of $26,18,495 on Wednesday, which includes brokers who made fake stock market investments, promising to double the invested amount. The police have taken into custody a 22-year-old online trader residing in Dibrugarh and one Swapnil Das from Guwahati. More arrests are likely of those involved in the scam. According to the police, Phukan persuaded people using his lavish lifestyle. He committed a 30% return on investment in just 60 days. He set up four companies, besides investing in the Assamese film industry and buying various properties. Dipankar Burman, the owner of DB Stock Broking Company, has gone missing. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has advised people to be careful of fraudulent online stock market investments, even suggesting that schemes promising to double money with minimal effort are typically frauds. “The promise of doubling your money with additional interest is a way of fraudsters. According to the law, no one is authorised to conduct stock broking in such a deceptive manner. They (certain apps) are completely unlawful. Today, the police have acted, and they will intensify it in the future. There is a proper procedure for engaging in stock broking—such as opening a Demat account. These apps should be ignored. They lure people with attractive returns initially and then scam them. So, please stay away from these," Sarma said. In Dibrugarh, police searched Phukan’s home in Pradhanjalee Residency, discovering various documents related to the scam. Authorities are also looking for Assamese choreographer Sumi Borah, who is believed to be connected to Phukan’s network

Assam police uncover $26,18,495 scam; CM warns citizens not to fall for fraud

In a crackdown on digital lending apps, the Reserve Bank of India, in its recent monetary policy committee meeting,&nbsp;announced the creation of a Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA). It will function as a central repository of legitimate digital lending apps and is the latest move&nbsp;in the battle against&nbsp;unauthorised digital lending fraud.

This comes as the Indian lending market experiences exponential growth, aided by increasing internet and smartphone penetration. This has subsequently led to a glaring number of online fraud cases in the country, currently at 29,082 in the financial year 2023-24 (334 per cent&nbsp;year-on-year increase). Fraud cases in the banking sector alone have risen 166 per cent&nbsp;year-on-year.

To discuss the menace of online lending fraud in India’s digital economy and the needed regulations, we spoke to Siddharth Soni, a fintech expert based out of Mumbai.

“India is fortunate to have one of the most proactive regulators globally. RBI has driven many proactive interventions in light of this emerging threat,” he said&nbsp;while pointing to the digital lending guidelines published in 2022 and several other reforms, including enforcing rules on Google to allow only legal lending apps on their Play Store,&nbsp;guidelines for fintech self regulatory organisation (SRO), and&nbsp;Integrated Ombudsman Scheme launched in 2021. The Ombudsman&nbsp;scheme simplified the grievances redressal process by consolidating various distinct ombudsman schemes into one umbrella for all its entities (NBFCs, Banks, CICs, PPI issuers) - with one portal, one email and one address for the customers to lodge their complaints.

This begs the question: Why are unauthorised lending apps prevalent despite these regulations?&nbsp;

“I believe the real challenge lies in growing customer awareness,” Siddharth said. “A report by industry body FACE (Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment) suggests that almost 36 per cent of survey respondents who initially displayed “high-confidence in their ability to verify Digital Lending App legality” actually had limited awareness on how to go about verifying - rather using factors such as app review and rating,” he added.

Creating customer trust in digital lending&nbsp;is more difficult than in&nbsp;traditional lending. This is more psychological as&nbsp;digital lending&nbsp;is&nbsp;technically through apps on our phones. With the rise in online fraud cases, this trust, which is already on a slippery slope, is expected to decline further. “Unauthorised digital lending apps not only cause economic loss to borrowers, but on a broader level create a negative impression for the overall legitimate digital lending industry,” Siddharth said.

Factors driving India's digital lending market

Siddharth&nbsp;expressed optimism in the industry’s growth outlook. “The overall fintech lending growth story remains strong. India is at the peak of its demographic dividend with an average age of 28 years. These young, digitally savvy Indians are the target market for fintechs. As they grow older, their income levels and requirement for financial services will grow in tandem - and fintechs will be well placed to serve them digitally,” he said.

“India’s fintech adoption rate as per the global fintech adoption index is 87 per cent higher than the global average of 64 per cent. Fintech adoption beyond tier 1-2 is rising rapidly on the back of growing wireless internet penetration, better access to cheap smartphones, and rising income levels. These are few among several tailwinds which will drive growth for the fintech lending industry overall," he said on the factors driving India’s fintech growth.

India is positioned to dominate the digital lending market but needs to address the challenges of financial literacy and digital fraud more diligently. This becomes more crucial as tech becomes sophisticated with the rise of Artificial intelligence.

Can AI armour digital lending market against fraud? "The silver lining is, we may potentially see growth in sophisticated AI-led fraud detection and prevention tools to evolve in parallel. As we observed platforms such as GPTZero get launched to combat AI plagiarism, similar tools to prevent AI led frauds in KYC may be seen in the future," Siddharth said.

(Expert views are personal)

In a crackdown on digital lending apps, the Reserve Bank of India, in its recent monetary policy committee meeting, announced the creation of a Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA).

In a crackdown on digital lending apps, the Reserve Bank of India, in its recent monetary policy committee meeting, announced the creation of a Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA). It will function as a central repository of legitimate digital lending apps and is the latest move in the battle against unauthorised digital lending fraud. This comes as the Indian lending market experiences exponential growth, aided by increasing internet and smartphone penetration. This has subsequently led to a glaring number of online fraud cases in the country, currently at 29,082 in the financial year 2023-24 (334 per cent year-on-year increase). Fraud cases in the banking sector alone have risen 166 per cent year-on-year. To discuss the menace of online lending fraud in India’s digital economy and the needed regulations, we spoke to Siddharth Soni, a fintech expert based out of Mumbai. “India is fortunate to have one of the most proactive regulators globally. RBI has driven many proactive interventions in light of this emerging threat,” he said while pointing to the digital lending guidelines published in 2022 and several other reforms, including enforcing rules on Google to allow only legal lending apps on their Play Store, guidelines for fintech self regulatory organisation (SRO), and Integrated Ombudsman Scheme launched in 2021. The Ombudsman scheme simplified the grievances redressal process by consolidating various distinct ombudsman schemes into one umbrella for all its entities (NBFCs, Banks, CICs, PPI issuers) - with one portal, one email and one address for the customers to lodge their complaints. This begs the question: Why are unauthorised lending apps prevalent despite these regulations? “I believe the real challenge lies in growing customer awareness,” Siddharth said. “A report by industry body FACE (Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment) suggests that almost 36 per cent of survey respondents who initially displayed “high-confidence in their ability to verify Digital Lending App legality” actually had limited awareness on how to go about verifying - rather using factors such as app review and rating,” he added. Creating customer trust in digital lending is more difficult than in traditional lending. This is more psychological as digital lending is technically through apps on our phones. With the rise in online fraud cases, this trust, which is already on a slippery slope, is expected to decline further. “Unauthorised digital lending apps not only cause economic loss to borrowers, but on a broader level create a negative impression for the overall legitimate digital lending industry,” Siddharth said. Factors driving India's digital lending market Siddharth expressed optimism in the industry’s growth outlook. “The overall fintech lending growth story remains strong. India is at the peak of its demographic dividend with an average age of 28 years. These young, digitally savvy Indians are the target market for fintechs. As they grow older, their income levels and requirement for financial services will grow in tandem - and fintechs will be well placed to serve them digitally,” he said. “India’s fintech adoption rate as per the global fintech adoption index is 87 per cent higher than the global average of 64 per cent. Fintech adoption beyond tier 1-2 is rising rapidly on the back of growing wireless internet penetration, better access to cheap smartphones, and rising income levels. These are few among several tailwinds which will drive growth for the fintech lending industry overall," he said on the factors driving India’s fintech growth. India is positioned to dominate the digital lending market but needs to address the challenges of financial literacy and digital fraud more diligently. This becomes more crucial as tech becomes sophisticated with the rise of Artificial intelligence. Can AI armour digital lending market against fraud? "The silver lining is, we may potentially see growth in sophisticated AI-led fraud detection and prevention tools to evolve in parallel. As we observed platforms such as GPTZero get launched to combat AI plagiarism, similar tools to prevent AI led frauds in KYC may be seen in the future," Siddharth said. (Expert views are personal)

India’s digital lending landscape: Is the RBI doing enough to curb online fraud?

A 46-year-old Chartered Accountant (CA), based in the Bengaluru city of Karnataka state, got duped for Rs 6.2 lakh (approx. $7500 ) when he tried to sell his kidney to make a few quick bucks. As per the Times Of India report, Raghuvaran (name changed) tried to sell his kidney online to find a way out of financial trouble, but he&nbsp;ended up losing more money to fraudsters.

The man, a resident of Mathikere in Bengaluru, told Central CEN Crime police in his complaint that on February 28, he started his online search for people looking for kidney donors and landed up on a website called kindeysuperspecialist.org.

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On the website, he found a contact number and tried reaching out on it. The receiver asked Raghuvaran to text him on WhatsApp and asked him to share his basic details such as name, age, address, and blood group.&nbsp;

When Raghuvaran revealed that his blood group was AB negative, the fraudsters offered him Rs 2 crore ($20 million) for a kidney, with half the amount paid in advance. He then sent his ID proof such as Aadhaar and PAN cards as well as a photograph to a mail ID- ‘doctordineshkullar@gmail.com’, which was provided to him by the fraudsters, the man told TOI.&nbsp;

"Initially, they asked me to pay Rs 8,000 for NOC and registration fee. Later, they told me to pay Rs 20,000 to purchase a code. The next day, they asked me to pay Rs 85,000 to operate the code," Raghuvaran said.

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On March 2, he was again asked to pay Rs 5 lakh ($ 50 million) for tax clearance to transfer the funds to his account, and Raghuvaran followed the instructions.&nbsp;

The next day, he received a call from an unknown number. "The caller, a woman, claimed to be a staffer of State Bank of India, Delhi and asked me to make a payment of Rs 7.6 lakh to get an anti-drug and terrorist clearance form. I suspected something fishy and didn't make the payment. They had sent me a form by email. I called my boss and a few friends. My boss informed me it was a scam and suggested that I immediately lodge a police complaint," Raghuvaran said.

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A man posing to be a doctor had also called Raghuvaran and explained to him the details of being a kidney donor.&nbsp;

Raghuvaran said he wanted to pay his EMIs, close credit cards and solve other of his financial issues. He said that he was completely unaware of the fact that selling a kidney to strangers for money is illegal.

A senior police officer said a case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and IPC Section 420&nbsp;for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A 46-year-old Chartered Accountant (CA), based in the Bengaluru city of Karnataka state, got duped for Rs 6.2 lakh (approx. $7500 ) when he tried to sell his kidney to make a few quick bucks.

A 46-year-old Chartered Accountant (CA), based in the Bengaluru city of Karnataka state, got duped for Rs 6.2 lakh (approx. $7500 ) when he tried to sell his kidney to make a few quick bucks. As per the Times Of India report, Raghuvaran (name changed) tried to sell his kidney online to find a way out of financial trouble, but he ended up losing more money to fraudsters. The man, a resident of Mathikere in Bengaluru, told Central CEN Crime police in his complaint that on February 28, he started his online search for people looking for kidney donors and landed up on a website called kindeysuperspecialist.org. Also Read | Byju's shifts to remote work, closes offices nationwide amid financial turmoil On the website, he found a contact number and tried reaching out on it. The receiver asked Raghuvaran to text him on WhatsApp and asked him to share his basic details such as name, age, address, and blood group. When Raghuvaran revealed that his blood group was AB negative, the fraudsters offered him Rs 2 crore ($20 million) for a kidney, with half the amount paid in advance. He then sent his ID proof such as Aadhaar and PAN cards as well as a photograph to a mail ID- ‘doctordineshkullar@gmail.com’, which was provided to him by the fraudsters, the man told TOI. "Initially, they asked me to pay Rs 8,000 for NOC and registration fee. Later, they told me to pay Rs 20,000 to purchase a code. The next day, they asked me to pay Rs 85,000 to operate the code," Raghuvaran said. Also Read | India still world’s largest arms importer with Russia being its top supplier: Report On March 2, he was again asked to pay Rs 5 lakh ($ 50 million) for tax clearance to transfer the funds to his account, and Raghuvaran followed the instructions. The next day, he received a call from an unknown number. "The caller, a woman, claimed to be a staffer of State Bank of India, Delhi and asked me to make a payment of Rs 7.6 lakh to get an anti-drug and terrorist clearance form. I suspected something fishy and didn't make the payment. They had sent me a form by email. I called my boss and a few friends. My boss informed me it was a scam and suggested that I immediately lodge a police complaint," Raghuvaran said. Also Read | IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal sells $820 million stake in bulk deal A man posing to be a doctor had also called Raghuvaran and explained to him the details of being a kidney donor. Raghuvaran said he wanted to pay his EMIs, close credit cards and solve other of his financial issues. He said that he was completely unaware of the fact that selling a kidney to strangers for money is illegal. A senior police officer said a case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and IPC Section 420 for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property. (With inputs from agencies)

Bengaluru-based CA duped by fraudsters after he tried to sell his kidney online

Authorities in China have arrested fraudsters involved in Apple ID loan scams, in which they tricked iPhone users into giving their Apple IDs and used those to exploit the victims.

Authorities in China have arrested fraudsters involved in Apple ID loan scams, in which they tricked iPhone users into giving their Apple IDs and used those to exploit the victims. Some of these scammers even used the name of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apple, Tim Cook, to gain the trust of victims, the Techibee reported. Chinese authorities have arrested over 40 people involved in the scam. They have tricked over 20,000 people and extracted over 130 million yuan ($181,000,000). What is the Apple ID loan scam? Many people in China have become victims of the Apple ID loan scam. In this, the scammers extract the Apple ID from iPhone users posing as company employees and then use it to exploit them. The Apple ID loan scam in China reminds all iPhone users worldwide to secure their digital identities. How to stay safe from Apple ID loan scams? People usually use smartphones for personal and financial tasks, making them the perfect target for scammers. Digital security is a must, as it protects an individual's personal and financial information. To stay away from the Apple ID loan scam, users have to be aware of their digital security. Authorities suggest not sharing account details, personal accounts, and Apple IDs if you're applying for a loan or for any other reasons. The phishing email usually comes via an email, text message or phone call. It's easy to fall for many internet-related clients as these messages usually appear legitimate but aren't. Apple phishing scams have become common in the last few months. The email might look like it's from the App Store or Apple Pay account. Apple ID and password are crucial for an iPhone user as they give access to the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime and other information, including contacts and payments. Other Apple ID scams Scammers have been using various ways to extract Apple IDs from iPhone users. In most cases, they pose as Apple support staff and say that your Apple ID or iCloud has been compromised. They ask for the password claiming that they would fix this. Sometimes, they leave an automated voice message directly to call a specific number for Apple support. In some cases, scammers send emails saying that your Apple ID was used by someone to make a purchase or it has been locked or your Apple Pay has been suspended due to suspicious activity. (With inputs from agencies)

What is Apple ID loan scam? How to stay safe from the latest online fraud?

An online fraud scheme run via WhatsApp link and a fraudulent app fuelled by a rumours promising substantial profits from buying virtual animals, like pigs, ducks etc., has cost hundreds of thousands of rupees to villagers in India's state of Bihar. As reported by Boom Decode, the scheme had lured people to invest&nbsp;in pigs and other livestock online through a game, with the expectation of high returns.&nbsp;

Here's all you need to know:

<h2>How it all started</h2>

The origins of the online scam can be traced back to a WhatsApp message that circulated in Bihar, claiming that purchasing animals online could yield profits of up to thousands of rupees within a few months. The message propagated the idea that an online game called ‘Smile Rancher’ helped a middle-aged man win big by "investing" in the online purchase of livestock. As per the claims, the man won INR 20 lakh or $2 million.

<h2>The scheme</h2>

The report quotes an 18-year-old victim of the scheme,&nbsp;Suraj Kumar who revealed that people had to create an account by entering a six-digit password. Once that was done, they would find pictures of dozens of animals which they could buy.

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After paying for the purchase, all they had to do was log in everyday and click on the animal. This would result in them getting paid a certain amount in the app's wallet.

"The most expensive was the peacock, which cost Rs 50,000. It would earn Rs 3,000 a day. Duck was the cheapest one which cost Rs 5,000 rupees, the app claimed to offer Rs 400 for it every day," said Kumar.

"One had to log in every day and click on the animal or bird that was bought. The earnings on the animals would come in the wallet of the account which was created in the app," he added.

<h2>Could this money be withdrawn?</h2>

Yes, but most times people would receive a server error.

The maximum limit for withdrawal from the application wallet was Rs&nbsp;3000,&nbsp;however, people who purchased and bred these virtual animals said they would very often get error messages on attempting to withdraw money.

However, some people successfully withdrew small amounts of money. This only helped give people false hope.&nbsp;

As the word spread, more individuals became interested in investing and many people borrowed money or sold assets to enter the market.&nbsp;

But one day the app just stopped working.

<h2>Who owns ‘Smile Rancher’ and why haven’t app stores like Google Play Store or Apple App Store taken any action?</h2>

As per transaction details accessed by Decode, the money people would spend on these virtual animals would go to the account of Sewing SKY India Pvt Limited — an unlisted company which according to the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs website deals in fabrics and is registered in Telangana Hyderabad and belongs to Gangadhar Pathri and Ajay Kumar Pathri.

Application stores like Google Play Store or the Apple AppStore have been unable to take any action because the application is not available on these platforms. People downloaded the application via a specific link shared on WhatsApp.

The app is now defunct.

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<h2>Who sent them the message?</h2>

As per the villagers, a man called Bhishma Pratap&nbsp;spread these rumours. They say that Pratap claimed that his uncle was the one who won Rs 20,00,000 ($24,190).

For those interested in earning extra money, Pratap created a WhatsApp group named "Ranchers no. 1".&nbsp;As the admin of the group, he started adding more and more villagers, he then sent the forwarded application&nbsp;link to the group, which had more than 60 members. Pratap left the group the same day the application stopped working.

<h2>How did so many people fall for the scam?</h2>

The application called itself a "breeding management investment company from the United States."&nbsp;

It noted that was involved in "offline investment promotion for major breeding pastures and looking for investors who work part-time in the breeding industry".

It further claimed that after 2020, i.e., the pandemic, the company&nbsp;started doing its business online and started seeking people from all over the world to join the breeding industry and "make money together".

For residents of the small Bihar village of Maulanagar, this seemed like a good idea to earn some extra money. Most of the village residents belong to a socially marginalised community called the Musahars.

<h2>Has anyone filed a complaint?</h2>

Kasim Khan, a self-proclaimed victim of the scam, reportedly took action against the fraudulent company by filing a complaint with the Consumer Complaints Court on July 22nd 2022. In his complaint, Khan stated that he had invested Rs 55,000 in&nbsp;the scheme and attempted to withdraw the amount after two days, but was unsuccessful despite multiple attempts. He alleges that the company, Breeding Management, had now ceased operations and had deceived thousands of individuals through their online scam.&nbsp;

<h2>Was it just the one Bihar village that got duped?</h2>

Unfortunately no, the app has reportedly spread far from Bihar and has reached Assam.&nbsp;

The people of the small Bihar village got duped in February 2022, and in early July last year, a gym trainer in Guwahati Assam also received the link to that game. He and his colleagues invested in the app and lost thousands of rupees.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
 
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An online fraud scheme run via WhatsApp link and a fraudulent app fuelled by a rumours promising substantial profits from buying virtual animals, like pigs, ducks etc.

An online fraud scheme run via WhatsApp link and a fraudulent app fuelled by a rumours promising substantial profits from buying virtual animals, like pigs, ducks etc., has cost hundreds of thousands of rupees to villagers in India's state of Bihar. As reported by Boom Decode, the scheme had lured people to invest in pigs and other livestock online through a game, with the expectation of high returns. Here's all you need to know: How it all started The origins of the online scam can be traced back to a WhatsApp message that circulated in Bihar, claiming that purchasing animals online could yield profits of up to thousands of rupees within a few months. The message propagated the idea that an online game called ‘Smile Rancher’ helped a middle-aged man win big by "investing" in the online purchase of livestock. As per the claims, the man won INR 20 lakh or $2 million. The scheme The report quotes an 18-year-old victim of the scheme, Suraj Kumar who revealed that people had to create an account by entering a six-digit password. Once that was done, they would find pictures of dozens of animals which they could buy. Also read | Bird flu 'fowls' the mood, kills nearly 9,000 marine creatures in Chile, France develops vaccine for ducks After paying for the purchase, all they had to do was log in everyday and click on the animal. This would result in them getting paid a certain amount in the app's wallet. "The most expensive was the peacock, which cost Rs 50,000. It would earn Rs 3,000 a day. Duck was the cheapest one which cost Rs 5,000 rupees, the app claimed to offer Rs 400 for it every day," said Kumar. "One had to log in every day and click on the animal or bird that was bought. The earnings on the animals would come in the wallet of the account which was created in the app," he added. Could this money be withdrawn? Yes, but most times people would receive a server error. The maximum limit for withdrawal from the application wallet was Rs 3000, however, people who purchased and bred these virtual animals said they would very often get error messages on attempting to withdraw money. However, some people successfully withdrew small amounts of money. This only helped give people false hope. As the word spread, more individuals became interested in investing and many people borrowed money or sold assets to enter the market. But one day the app just stopped working. Who owns ‘Smile Rancher’ and why haven’t app stores like Google Play Store or Apple App Store taken any action? As per transaction details accessed by Decode, the money people would spend on these virtual animals would go to the account of Sewing SKY India Pvt Limited — an unlisted company which according to the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs website deals in fabrics and is registered in Telangana Hyderabad and belongs to Gangadhar Pathri and Ajay Kumar Pathri. Application stores like Google Play Store or the Apple AppStore have been unable to take any action because the application is not available on these platforms. People downloaded the application via a specific link shared on WhatsApp. The app is now defunct. Also read | Cocaine price crash a blow for Colombian coca growers Who sent them the message? As per the villagers, a man called Bhishma Pratap spread these rumours. They say that Pratap claimed that his uncle was the one who won Rs 20,00,000 ($24,190). For those interested in earning extra money, Pratap created a WhatsApp group named "Ranchers no. 1". As the admin of the group, he started adding more and more villagers, he then sent the forwarded application link to the group, which had more than 60 members. Pratap left the group the same day the application stopped working. How did so many people fall for the scam? The application called itself a "breeding management investment company from the United States." It noted that was involved in "offline investment promotion for major breeding pastures and looking for investors who work part-time in the breeding industry". It further claimed that after 2020, i.e., the pandemic, the company started doing its business online and started seeking people from all over the world to join the breeding industry and "make money together". For residents of the small Bihar village of Maulanagar, this seemed like a good idea to earn some extra money. Most of the village residents belong to a socially marginalised community called the Musahars. Has anyone filed a complaint? Kasim Khan, a self-proclaimed victim of the scam, reportedly took action against the fraudulent company by filing a complaint with the Consumer Complaints Court on July 22nd 2022. In his complaint, Khan stated that he had invested Rs 55,000 in the scheme and attempted to withdraw the amount after two days, but was unsuccessful despite multiple attempts. He alleges that the company, Breeding Management, had now ceased operations and had deceived thousands of individuals through their online scam. Was it just the one Bihar village that got duped? Unfortunately no, the app has reportedly spread far from Bihar and has reached Assam. The people of the small Bihar village got duped in February 2022, and in early July last year, a gym trainer in Guwahati Assam also received the link to that game. He and his colleagues invested in the app and lost thousands of rupees. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. 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Explained | ‘Smile Rancher’ makes people cry. All you need to know about the latest online scam

A scammer impersonating as a&nbsp;Maharashtra narcotics division employee scammed a Delhi doctor into paying Rs 4.47 crore ($ 548K).&nbsp;The scamster told the 34-year-old woman that a huge amount of MDMA drug had been discovered in a FedEx delivery associated with her.

Then members of the cyber criminal gang posed as officers from the Andheri police station, RBI officials, a DCP from Mumbai Police, customs sleuths, and Narcotics division detectives to swindle money from the victim.&nbsp;

As per&nbsp;a TOI report, Delhi Police filed a FIR against the scammers and launched a technical investigation.&nbsp;

Notably, it is being reported as Delhi's largest cyber crime, which began with a phone call to the victim. The crooks told the woman doctor that her FedEx shipment had been confiscated as it has MDMS drug.&nbsp;

The caller instructed her to submit a report with the Andheri police station, and the policemen told her to file the case online because the victim was in Delhi. She was instructed to download the Skype application.&nbsp;

A woman purporting to be Inspector Patil communicated with the victim over Skype and spoke with someone else about validating her Aadhaar ID. According to report, the victim overheard a conversation in which her ID was used to create 23 bank accounts in Mumbai and was flagged for money laundering.&nbsp;

Following that, she was asked to produce photographs of her bank accounts with the balances and to provide her whole financial information. On the callers' directions, the victim got caught in&nbsp;their web of lies and even broke her fixed deposits for verification.&nbsp;

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Another police officer instructed her to fill up RTGS papers, and other authorities posing as RBI personnel, as well as the Mumbai Narcotics Division officials, joined the cyber fraud and stole Rs 4.47 crore&nbsp;($548K)&nbsp;from the doctor.&nbsp;

<h2>More than 500 apps blocked over cyber fraud, spoofing concerns</h2>

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced last month&nbsp;that the Union Home Ministry had identified over 500 apps that were being used in India for spoofing and fraud.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;G7 Hiroshima Meet 2023: PM Modi meets Ukraine Prez Zelensky for first time since Russian invasion

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"The apps have been blocked on Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre's&nbsp;(I4C) recommendations due to security reasons and action has been taken as per law,"&nbsp;Shah said, while reviewing the working of the&nbsp;cyber crime centre&nbsp;at NDCC Bhawan in Delhi.

The unit prepared an analytical report on the top 50 cyber attacks' modes of operation and shared data with states. This unit is also looking into the AIIMS cyber attack.

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A scammer impersonating as a Maharashtra narcotics division employee scammed a Delhi doctor into paying Rs 4.47 crore ($ 548K). The scamster told the 34-year-old woman that a huge amount of MDMA drug had been discovered in a FedEx delivery associated with her.

A scammer impersonating as a Maharashtra narcotics division employee scammed a Delhi doctor into paying Rs 4.47 crore ($ 548K). The scamster told the 34-year-old woman that a huge amount of MDMA drug had been discovered in a FedEx delivery associated with her. Then members of the cyber criminal gang posed as officers from the Andheri police station, RBI officials, a DCP from Mumbai Police, customs sleuths, and Narcotics division detectives to swindle money from the victim. As per a TOI report, Delhi Police filed a FIR against the scammers and launched a technical investigation. Notably, it is being reported as Delhi's largest cyber crime, which began with a phone call to the victim. The crooks told the woman doctor that her FedEx shipment had been confiscated as it has MDMS drug. The caller instructed her to submit a report with the Andheri police station, and the policemen told her to file the case online because the victim was in Delhi. She was instructed to download the Skype application. A woman purporting to be Inspector Patil communicated with the victim over Skype and spoke with someone else about validating her Aadhaar ID. According to report, the victim overheard a conversation in which her ID was used to create 23 bank accounts in Mumbai and was flagged for money laundering. Following that, she was asked to produce photographs of her bank accounts with the balances and to provide her whole financial information. On the callers' directions, the victim got caught in their web of lies and even broke her fixed deposits for verification. ALSO READ | India: Congress leader Siddaramaiah takes oath as Karnataka’s new CM, DK Shivakumar his deputy Another police officer instructed her to fill up RTGS papers, and other authorities posing as RBI personnel, as well as the Mumbai Narcotics Division officials, joined the cyber fraud and stole Rs 4.47 crore ($548K) from the doctor. More than 500 apps blocked over cyber fraud, spoofing concerns Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced last month that the Union Home Ministry had identified over 500 apps that were being used in India for spoofing and fraud. ALSO WATCH | G7 Hiroshima Meet 2023: PM Modi meets Ukraine Prez Zelensky for first time since Russian invasion "The apps have been blocked on Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre's (I4C) recommendations due to security reasons and action has been taken as per law," Shah said, while reviewing the working of the cyber crime centre at NDCC Bhawan in Delhi. The unit prepared an analytical report on the top 50 cyber attacks' modes of operation and shared data with states. This unit is also looking into the AIIMS cyber attack. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Delhi’s ‘biggest cyber fraud’: Doctor duped of Rs 4.5 crore ($548K) via Skype calls

International Cricket Council (ICC) has become the latest victim of online fraud. The global cricket body has been duped of over $2.5 million after fraudsters used deception and forgery to trick the ICC officials at its Dubai headquartered office.&nbsp;According to a Cricbuzz report, the ICC became a victim of a phishing attack wherein the scammer created a fake email id, pretending to be an ICC consultant.&nbsp;

A voucher was then sent to the finance department of ICC. The requisite money, $500,000 in one instance was cleared and sent into the scammers' account. Such was the sophistication of the entire process that ICC fell prey to the scam&nbsp;multiple times.&nbsp;

According to reports, ICC's&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the entire finance department in Dubai is under heavy scrutiny. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may be involved in the case as the phishing source is based in the US.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/here-are-four-things-to-know-about-the-raipur-stadium-that-will-host-2nd-odi-between-india-and-new-zealand-554419">Read more:&nbsp;Here are four things to know about the Raipur Stadium that will host 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand</a>&nbsp;

While BCCI, the behemoth of international cricket may not sweat after losing such an amount, it is big for ICC and its associate members.&nbsp;

Incidentally, the money ICC lost in the incident could have been used to&nbsp;fund multiple associate nations for an entire year. On average, an ODI associate nation ranked 13-20 gets $500,000 to $1 million in funding from the ICC.&nbsp;

ICC falling prey to such a scam is unheard of. Multiple checks and balances are in place when any amount is transferred to a third party.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-2023-bcci-plans-to-drop-michael-clarke-from-commentary-panel-following-spat-with-partner-554366">Read more:&nbsp;IND vs AUS 2023: BCCI plans to drop Michael Clarke from commentary panel following spat with partner</a>

ICC has not commented on the issue so far. It is only&nbsp;likely to release a statement once the extent of the scam is unearthed. 2023 being an ICC event year with the 50-over World Cup scheduled in India, questions are being raised if ICC is up to the task of handling the finances of the marquee tournament.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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International Cricket Council (ICC) has become the latest victim of online fraud. The global cricket body has been duped of over $2.5 million after fraudsters used deception and forgery to trick the ICC officials at its Dubai headquartered office.

International Cricket Council (ICC) has become the latest victim of online fraud. The global cricket body has been duped of over $2.5 million after fraudsters used deception and forgery to trick the ICC officials at its Dubai headquartered office. According to a Cricbuzz report, the ICC became a victim of a phishing attack wherein the scammer created a fake email id, pretending to be an ICC consultant. A voucher was then sent to the finance department of ICC. The requisite money, $500,000 in one instance was cleared and sent into the scammers' account. Such was the sophistication of the entire process that ICC fell prey to the scam multiple times. According to reports, ICC's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the entire finance department in Dubai is under heavy scrutiny. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may be involved in the case as the phishing source is based in the US. Read more: Here are four things to know about the Raipur Stadium that will host 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand While BCCI, the behemoth of international cricket may not sweat after losing such an amount, it is big for ICC and its associate members. Incidentally, the money ICC lost in the incident could have been used to fund multiple associate nations for an entire year. On average, an ODI associate nation ranked 13-20 gets $500,000 to $1 million in funding from the ICC. ICC falling prey to such a scam is unheard of. Multiple checks and balances are in place when any amount is transferred to a third party. Read more: IND vs AUS 2023: BCCI plans to drop Michael Clarke from commentary panel following spat with partner ICC has not commented on the issue so far. It is only likely to release a statement once the extent of the scam is unearthed. 2023 being an ICC event year with the 50-over World Cup scheduled in India, questions are being raised if ICC is up to the task of handling the finances of the marquee tournament. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

ICC becomes victim of online fraud, loses $2.5 million in phishing attack

Google is planning to clamp down on financial fraud on its platform in the United Kingdom, saying on Wednesday that all financial services will need to be verified by the regulator before they can advertise.

World Business Watch: Google to clamp down on financial frauds on its platforms in UK

Police in China arrested over 1,100 people suspected of using cryptocurrencies to launder illegal proceeds from telephone and Internet scams in a recent crackdown, the Ministry of Public Security said. 
 
The arrests came as authorities in China step up their crackdown on cryptocurrency trading. Last month, three industry bodies banned crypto-related financial and payment services, and the State Council, China`s cabinet, vowed to clamp down on bitcoin mining and trading. 
 
The public security ministry said that by Wednesday afternoon police had busted more than 170 criminal groups involved in using cryptocurrencies to launder money. 
 
The money launderers charged their criminal clients a commission of 1.5% to 5% to convert illegal proceeds into virtual currencies via crypto exchanges, the ministry said via its official Wechat account. 
 
China`s Payment &amp; Clearing Association said on Wednesday that the number of crimes involving the use of virtual currencies is on the rise. 
 
Because cryptocurrencies are anonymous, convenient and global in nature, "they have increasingly become an important channel for cross-border money laundering," the association said in a statement. 
 
Cryptocurrencies have already become a popular means of payment in illegal gambling activities. Nearly 13% of gambling sites support the use of virtual currencies, and blockchain technology has made it more difficult for authorities to track the money, according to the association.

Police in China arrested over 1,100 people suspected of using cryptocurrencies to launder illegal proceeds from telephone and Internet scams in a recent crackdown, the Ministry of Public Security said.

Police in China arrested over 1,100 people suspected of using cryptocurrencies to launder illegal proceeds from telephone and Internet scams in a recent crackdown, the Ministry of Public Security said. The arrests came as authorities in China step up their crackdown on cryptocurrency trading. Last month, three industry bodies banned crypto-related financial and payment services, and the State Council, China`s cabinet, vowed to clamp down on bitcoin mining and trading. The public security ministry said that by Wednesday afternoon police had busted more than 170 criminal groups involved in using cryptocurrencies to launder money. The money launderers charged their criminal clients a commission of 1.5% to 5% to convert illegal proceeds into virtual currencies via crypto exchanges, the ministry said via its official Wechat account. China`s Payment & Clearing Association said on Wednesday that the number of crimes involving the use of virtual currencies is on the rise. Because cryptocurrencies are anonymous, convenient and global in nature, "they have increasingly become an important channel for cross-border money laundering," the association said in a statement. Cryptocurrencies have already become a popular means of payment in illegal gambling activities. Nearly 13% of gambling sites support the use of virtual currencies, and blockchain technology has made it more difficult for authorities to track the money, according to the association.

China arrests over 1,100 suspects in crackdown on crypto-related money laundering

As per a survey, 56% Indians were victim of online scams by clicking on malicious links. Cybersecurity firm warns Indians from becoming a victim of online shopping discounts during the holiday season. Watch to know more

Increasing number of Indians falling prey to online scams

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