A Chinese exchange student fell victim to a “cyber kidnapping” scam and $80,000 was extorted from his parents after which he was found alive but “cold and scared” in a tent located in the wilderness of Utah, said the police. 
 
17-year-old Kai Zhuang was reported missing on Thursday (Dec 28) after his parents – who are living in China – informed the officials at his host high school in Riverdale, Utah that they suspected their child had been kidnapped and a ransom demand had been made to them. 
 
The case continued on the typical pattern for cyber kidnapping in which the victim is asked by the “kidnappers” to isolate themselves and provide pictures of them as if being held captive. The photos then taken are sent to the victim’s family to extort a payment. Generally, the victims comply fearing that going against the kidnappers will harm their family members.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-removes-nine-army-officials-from-parliament-in-a-reshuffle-675032">China expels nine army officials from parliament in a sweeping reshuffle</a>

After going through bank records, purchases and phone ping records in a search operation, the police were convinced that the boy was isolated in a tent some 40km (25 miles) north in a large area, close to Brigham City. 
 
“Due to the cold weather in Utah this time of year, we became additionally concerned for the victim’s safety in that he may freeze to death overnight,” said the Riverdale Police Department, in a press release after he was discovered Sunday (Dec 31).

<h2 lang="en-US">Kai found isolated in a tent</h2>

A sergeant – who was hiking on a mountainside – found Kai’s tent which did not have any heat source but only “a heat blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water and several phones that were presumed to be used to carry out the cyber kidnapping,” the department said. 
 
The detective said that he “contacted the victim inside the tent and found he was alive but very cold and scared”.

Watch:&nbsp;Africa, Brazil to halt 'donkey skin trade' in major blow to supplies for Chinese medicine

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/africa-brazil-to-halt-donkey-skin-trade-in-major-blow-to-supplies-for-chinese-medicine-675784/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After he was rescued, Kai “requested a warm cheeseburger” and spoke to his family, which had made the payment of US$80,000 to bank accounts in China when they were threatened, according to Riverdale police. 
 
The host family of Kai in Riverdale was initially unaware that the boy was missing and had last seen him in the kitchen in the early morning of the same day when he disappeared. According to the press release, Riverdale police worked along with the FBI, Chinese officials and the US embassy in China to find the missing teenager. 
 
Riverdale police said that the cyber kidnappers have been recently targeting foreign exchange students recently, and especially, Chinese foreign exchange students.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Chinese exchange student fell victim to a “cyber kidnapping” scam and $80,000 was extorted from his parents after which he was found alive but “cold and scared” in a tent located in the wilderness of Utah, said the police.

A Chinese exchange student fell victim to a “cyber kidnapping” scam and $80,000 was extorted from his parents after which he was found alive but “cold and scared” in a tent located in the wilderness of Utah, said the police. 17-year-old Kai Zhuang was reported missing on Thursday (Dec 28) after his parents – who are living in China – informed the officials at his host high school in Riverdale, Utah that they suspected their child had been kidnapped and a ransom demand had been made to them. The case continued on the typical pattern for cyber kidnapping in which the victim is asked by the “kidnappers” to isolate themselves and provide pictures of them as if being held captive. The photos then taken are sent to the victim’s family to extort a payment. Generally, the victims comply fearing that going against the kidnappers will harm their family members. Also read: China expels nine army officials from parliament in a sweeping reshuffle After going through bank records, purchases and phone ping records in a search operation, the police were convinced that the boy was isolated in a tent some 40km (25 miles) north in a large area, close to Brigham City. “Due to the cold weather in Utah this time of year, we became additionally concerned for the victim’s safety in that he may freeze to death overnight,” said the Riverdale Police Department, in a press release after he was discovered Sunday (Dec 31). Kai found isolated in a tent A sergeant – who was hiking on a mountainside – found Kai’s tent which did not have any heat source but only “a heat blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water and several phones that were presumed to be used to carry out the cyber kidnapping,” the department said. The detective said that he “contacted the victim inside the tent and found he was alive but very cold and scared”. Watch: Africa, Brazil to halt 'donkey skin trade' in major blow to supplies for Chinese medicine After he was rescued, Kai “requested a warm cheeseburger” and spoke to his family, which had made the payment of US$80,000 to bank accounts in China when they were threatened, according to Riverdale police. The host family of Kai in Riverdale was initially unaware that the boy was missing and had last seen him in the kitchen in the early morning of the same day when he disappeared. According to the press release, Riverdale police worked along with the FBI, Chinese officials and the US embassy in China to find the missing teenager. Riverdale police said that the cyber kidnappers have been recently targeting foreign exchange students recently, and especially, Chinese foreign exchange students. (With inputs from agencies)

A ‘cyber kidnapping’ scam left a Chinese exchange student freezing in Utah wilderness

As the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh gears up for the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the birthplace of lord Rama, scammers are using this historic occasion to scam innocent pilgrims.

Criminals loot devotees in Ram Temple's name | Police crackdown on cannabis

Rising threat of Whatsapp screen share scam, scammers access valuable info by viewing the victim's screen. The scam targets financial & social media data of users. Watch the video to get more insights!

Whatsapp Scam Alert: Scammers exploit users data by screen-sharing feature

WhatsApp on Friday (Dec 8), revealed the details of its latest feature: the ability for users to send voice messages that automatically disappear after being listened to.

WhatsApp rolls out `View Once` voice message feature

A woman got a bill of $60,000 after she put out a photo of her meal with the QR code that was stuck on the table. Online users scanned that code and placed orders. Molly Gambhir tells you how you can stay safe from such QR code nightmares

Why you should blur that QR code

Description: North Korea is infamous for the level of control the government exerts over its citizens. It's been discovered that the country is using unethical ways and fraudulent techniques to dispatch thousands of skilled I.T. Workers overseas. Find out more in this report.

North Koreans using fake identities to land remote jobs

North Koreans are allegedly using fake names, sham LinkedIn profiles, counterfeit work papers and mock interview scripts to clear remote jobs in Western tech companies. Researchers at Pao Alto networks a US cyber security firm made the discovery.

Report: North Koreans using fake names to land remote jobs

Planning a vacation with loved ones? Beware of deceptive practices when booking flight tickets. Guard against fraudulent airline ticket deals by scrutinising prices, verifying departure dates, and ensuring secure payment methods. We highlight the emergence of new techniques employed by scammers.

Flight travellers targets of ticket scams

Explore a new scam targeting travelers, delve into the technology behind drone light shows, and understand the operations of the world's most active ransomware group, LockBit. Watch this episode of Tech It Out as we unpack these topics for you.

New airline ticket scam, world's most active extortion gang, and more | Tech It Out: ​EP 134

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday in the alleged excise policy scam, will likely skip the summons. Kejriwal is also scheduled to travel to Madhya Pradesh's Singhrauli today, for an electoral campaign.

India: Arvind Kejriwal likely to skip probe agency ED summons in liquor policy case

WhatsApp has introduced a passkey feature to verify accounts and make it easier for users to prove their identity. Watch the video to know more.

WhatsApp rolls out Passkey feature for select users: Things to know

A US District Court has sentenced two Indian nationals to 41 months in prison for committing wire fraud and illegally obtaining $1.2 million from victims across the United States.

A US District Court has sentenced two Indian nationals to 41 months in prison for committing wire fraud and illegally obtaining $1.2 million from victims across the United States. According to US Attorney Philip R. Selliger, Arushobike Mitra, 29, and Garbita Mitra, 25, were found guilty before US District Judge Esther Salas on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. "These defendants and their conspirators preyed upon some of our most vulnerable citizens, using trickery and threats to coerce them into sending money," Sellinger said at the Newark federal court on Tuesday. The US attorney added, "Protecting our elderly population from these kinds of deceitful robocall scams is a priority of our office. Those who engage in this kind of elder fraud scheme can expect to face justice." He also credited several US government agencies for investigating the case. In addition to the prison terms, Judge Salas sentenced Arushobike Mitra and Garbita Mitra to three years of supervised release. The bench also ordered them to pay $835,324 in restitution. ALSO READ | Anxiety builds among Indian students and residents going to Canada as relations deteriorate The court documented the case as an international fraud scheme where India-based scam centres used automated robocalls to contact victims across the United States with the intent of defrauding them, particularly senior citizens, reported PTI. After the scammers established contact with the victims using these automated calls, they tricked them into sending large amounts of money through physical shipments or wire transfers to other members involved in the fraud, including the Mitras. The scammers used several schemes to persuade victims to send money, like pretending to be officials from government agencies like the Social Security Administration, FBI or DEA. According to the federal prosecutors, they threatened victims with severe legal or financial consequences. ALSO READ | Nawaz Sharif praises Modi, says Pak begging for funds while India has reached the Moon Furthermore, the fraudsters convinced the victims they were from a tech support company, forcing them into providing remote access to their personal computers and confidential information. The scammer pretends to add money to the victim's bank account. But in reality, they transfer money from another victim's accounts. The victim believes that they received extra money. Then, the scammer instructs the victim to send money via mail or wire transfer to members involved in the scam, such as the Mitras. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US federal court sentences two Indian nationals to 41 months in prison for robocall scam

Hansal Mehta’s Scam 2003 premiered on SonyLIV on September 1 and we got in touch with lead actor Gagan Dev Riar who essays the role of infamous fraudster Abdul Karim Telgi that rocked the nation with his stamp paper scam that was worth Rs 30,000 crores. Gagan speaks to WION’s Zeba Khan on his equation with National Film Award-winning director Hansal Mehta and whether Scam 2 can be as successful as Scam 1 starring Pratik Gandhi as Harshad Mehta.

Scam 2003 lead actor Gagan on whether this role can be a game-changer for him

Scams are on the rise as hackers and malicious minds are innovating with new phishing tactics. The government of India has hence warned citizens to be extra careful when it comes to their Aadhaar cards. The UIDAI which is the governing body of Aadhaar has issued a warning about the rising number of frauds and scams related to the Aadhaar card.

India: Aadhaar card scams on the rise

In a big revelation in India, about 53 per cent of institutions which are active under the government's minority scholarship programme have been found to be 'fake', said multiple media reports. The findings have reportedly been obtained in a internal inquiry which was conducted by Ministry of Minority Affairs. This is being reported as 'biggest minority scholarship scam' in the country. The inquiry by the ministry has brought to the fore corruption in 830 such institutions. It is being touted to be a scam amounting to more than 17 million US dollars (Rs 144.83 crore), reported India Today.

Union Minister Smriti Irani has sent the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

As per the report, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has lodged a complaint in the matter. The complaint was lodged on July 10. The internal inquiry involved investigation in 100 districts across 34 states. A total of 1572 institutions were reportedly scrutinised.

The authorities have now frozen accounts of 830 institutions which are under the scanner.

India Today reported that the ministry has raised questions with banks as to why accounts of such institutions were opened in the first place.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-reconstitutes-cwc-sachin-pilot-and-shashi-tharoor-included-627234">Congress reconstitutes CWC, Shashi Tharoor and Sachin Pilot included</a>

The report said that many of the institutions under scanner were registered on National Scholarship Portal as well as the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) but they were non-existent or non-operational.

The CBI will now investigate nodal officers of these institutions who submitted approval reports as well district nodal officers who verified cases which were found to be fake. The agency will also probe into how a scam of such size was allowed to persist for years in multiple Indian states.

The ministry's probe has reportedly found that in 62 institutions in Chhattisgarh were found to be fake. In Rajasthan, the number was 99. In Assam, 68 per cent of the probed institutions were found to be suspicious. The percentages in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal were 64, 44 and 39 respectively.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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In a big revelation in India, about 53 per cent of institutions which are active under the government's minority scholarship programme have been found to be 'fake', said multiple media reports.

In a big revelation in India, about 53 per cent of institutions which are active under the government's minority scholarship programme have been found to be 'fake', said multiple media reports. The findings have reportedly been obtained in a internal inquiry which was conducted by Ministry of Minority Affairs. This is being reported as 'biggest minority scholarship scam' in the country. The inquiry by the ministry has brought to the fore corruption in 830 such institutions. It is being touted to be a scam amounting to more than 17 million US dollars (Rs 144.83 crore), reported India Today. Union Minister Smriti Irani has sent the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). As per the report, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has lodged a complaint in the matter. The complaint was lodged on July 10. The internal inquiry involved investigation in 100 districts across 34 states. A total of 1572 institutions were reportedly scrutinised. The authorities have now frozen accounts of 830 institutions which are under the scanner. India Today reported that the ministry has raised questions with banks as to why accounts of such institutions were opened in the first place. Also Read | Congress reconstitutes CWC, Shashi Tharoor and Sachin Pilot included The report said that many of the institutions under scanner were registered on National Scholarship Portal as well as the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) but they were non-existent or non-operational. The CBI will now investigate nodal officers of these institutions who submitted approval reports as well district nodal officers who verified cases which were found to be fake. The agency will also probe into how a scam of such size was allowed to persist for years in multiple Indian states. The ministry's probe has reportedly found that in 62 institutions in Chhattisgarh were found to be fake. In Rajasthan, the number was 99. In Assam, 68 per cent of the probed institutions were found to be suspicious. The percentages in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal were 64, 44 and 39 respectively. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Indian ministry flags minority scholarship scam, CBI to probe 830 institutions: Report

The Witness is a WION digital series that will tell you the world's biggest stories from the lens of a common man. In this episode, we decode a scam that starts in India & ends in Canada. We tell you why Indian students are staring at a bleak future in the land of Maple Leaf.

Indian Students in Canada: Broke & Broken| The Witness

Scruffy depots packed with bags of ore line a road leading to the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining capital Kolwezi, in the southeast of the vast mineral-rich African country. 
 
Behind depot walls scrawled with "CoCu" — signifying cobalt and copper — traders assess the purity of illegally mined ore brought in by informal miners, and fix a price. 
 
But the miners, who mostly work in dire conditions, complain that traders rig purity readings to rip them off.&nbsp; "There's trickery everywhere," said miner Paul Bande, 45, at the Kamilombe artisanal mine near Kolwezi. 
 
An ambitious scheme is now taking shape in Lualaba province to fix the problem by establishing a government-backed depot. 
 
Known as the Musompo Trading Centre, it would cut out mercenary middlemen by offering to test and warehouse ore on behalf of the miners. 
 
Willy Yav, the head of Congolese firm SudSouth tasked by the Lualaba government with running the centre, described the average ore trader as a "mafia guy". 
 
The trading centre would also help burnish the image of artisanal cobalt, he explained, and lead to more money and better working conditions for miners. 
 
A traceability and certification scheme, for example, would ensure that ore in Musompo has only been sourced from artisanal mines that meet certain rights and safety conditions. 
 
Congo produces over 70 per cent of the world's cobalt, a metal critical to batteries used in electronics and electric cars.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-nine-trapped-drc-miners-rescued-by-man-with-bare-hands-in-viral-video-576474">Nine trapped DRC miners rescued by man with bare hands in VIRAL video</a> 
 
Most cobalt is extracted from giant industrial mines, but over 200,000 people are estimated to work as so-called artisanal miners at illegal mining sites. 
 
Accusations of child labour, dangerous working conditions and corruption in the artisanal sector weigh on Congo's whole cobalt industry. 
 
The impoverished country relies heavily on mining: the sector represented 95 per cent of export revenues, and about a quarter of GDP between 2016 and 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund.

<h2>Legal issues&nbsp;</h2>

SudSouth CEO Willy Yav admitted that legal issues hinder the Musompo Trading Centre, which is not yet up and running.

Under Congolese law, artisanal miners are only permitted to work in government-designated zones and must be members of approved cooperatives.&nbsp;

Yet the law is not enforced. Most artisanal miners work outside the designated zones, in pits and tunnels dug with rudimentary tools, on concessions owned by mining multinationals.&nbsp;

Without a resolution of the legal issues, legitimate buyers will struggle to purchase ore from Musompo. &nbsp;

Other complications abound. For example, the role of Congo's Entreprise Generale du Cobalt (EGC), a state company with a monopoly on buying and marketing artisan mined cobalt, is unclear.&nbsp;

Congo launched EGC in 2021 hoping to develop the artisanal sector and to influence world cobalt prices. But the state firm has not yet bought any cobalt.

<h2>'Impatience'&nbsp;</h2>

Yav hopes the trading centre can work with the Kamilombe artisanal mine on a pilot basis. Success could then serve as a model for reforming the entire informal cobalt sector.&nbsp;"It's very important to fix this," he said, noting that informal diggers will keep invading corporate concessions because they have families to feed.&nbsp;

"Everyone's interest is met through a model like the trade centre".&nbsp;

A USAID critical minerals adviser, who requested anonymity, said the scheme could work but that legal issues, as well as finding buyers for artisan mined cobalt posed complications.

"There's a lot of interest from the provincial government that has an interest in cleaning up this supply chain and also generating a fair tax revenue," he said.

There is enthusiasm for the scheme in Kamilombe — a sprawling artisanal site of an estimated 1,000 tunnels not far from Kolwezi and located on a state-owned concession.

Bande, the miner, said he was waiting with "impatience" for the opening of the government-backed trading centre.&nbsp;

Traders only pay miners for either copper or cobalt, he explained, even though the ore they dig often contains both.&nbsp;

AFP visited both the Musompo Trading Centre and the Kamilombe artisanal mine as part of a trip facilitated by the Cobalt Institute, a lobby group.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp; 
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Scruffy depots packed with bags of ore line a road leading to the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining capital Kolwezi, in the southeast of the vast mineral-rich African country.

Scruffy depots packed with bags of ore line a road leading to the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining capital Kolwezi, in the southeast of the vast mineral-rich African country. Behind depot walls scrawled with "CoCu" — signifying cobalt and copper — traders assess the purity of illegally mined ore brought in by informal miners, and fix a price. But the miners, who mostly work in dire conditions, complain that traders rig purity readings to rip them off. "There's trickery everywhere," said miner Paul Bande, 45, at the Kamilombe artisanal mine near Kolwezi. An ambitious scheme is now taking shape in Lualaba province to fix the problem by establishing a government-backed depot. Known as the Musompo Trading Centre, it would cut out mercenary middlemen by offering to test and warehouse ore on behalf of the miners. Willy Yav, the head of Congolese firm SudSouth tasked by the Lualaba government with running the centre, described the average ore trader as a "mafia guy". The trading centre would also help burnish the image of artisanal cobalt, he explained, and lead to more money and better working conditions for miners. A traceability and certification scheme, for example, would ensure that ore in Musompo has only been sourced from artisanal mines that meet certain rights and safety conditions. Congo produces over 70 per cent of the world's cobalt, a metal critical to batteries used in electronics and electric cars. Also read | Nine trapped DRC miners rescued by man with bare hands in VIRAL video Most cobalt is extracted from giant industrial mines, but over 200,000 people are estimated to work as so-called artisanal miners at illegal mining sites. Accusations of child labour, dangerous working conditions and corruption in the artisanal sector weigh on Congo's whole cobalt industry. The impoverished country relies heavily on mining: the sector represented 95 per cent of export revenues, and about a quarter of GDP between 2016 and 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund. Legal issues SudSouth CEO Willy Yav admitted that legal issues hinder the Musompo Trading Centre, which is not yet up and running. Under Congolese law, artisanal miners are only permitted to work in government-designated zones and must be members of approved cooperatives. Yet the law is not enforced. Most artisanal miners work outside the designated zones, in pits and tunnels dug with rudimentary tools, on concessions owned by mining multinationals. Without a resolution of the legal issues, legitimate buyers will struggle to purchase ore from Musompo. Other complications abound. For example, the role of Congo's Entreprise Generale du Cobalt (EGC), a state company with a monopoly on buying and marketing artisan mined cobalt, is unclear. Congo launched EGC in 2021 hoping to develop the artisanal sector and to influence world cobalt prices. But the state firm has not yet bought any cobalt. 'Impatience' Yav hopes the trading centre can work with the Kamilombe artisanal mine on a pilot basis. Success could then serve as a model for reforming the entire informal cobalt sector. "It's very important to fix this," he said, noting that informal diggers will keep invading corporate concessions because they have families to feed. "Everyone's interest is met through a model like the trade centre". A USAID critical minerals adviser, who requested anonymity, said the scheme could work but that legal issues, as well as finding buyers for artisan mined cobalt posed complications. "There's a lot of interest from the provincial government that has an interest in cleaning up this supply chain and also generating a fair tax revenue," he said. There is enthusiasm for the scheme in Kamilombe — a sprawling artisanal site of an estimated 1,000 tunnels not far from Kolwezi and located on a state-owned concession. Bande, the miner, said he was waiting with "impatience" for the opening of the government-backed trading centre. Traders only pay miners for either copper or cobalt, he explained, even though the ore they dig often contains both. AFP visited both the Musompo Trading Centre and the Kamilombe artisanal mine as part of a trip facilitated by the Cobalt Institute, a lobby group. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

DR Congo sets up scheme to save informal cobalt miners from swindlers

A lot of people have been receiving a WhatsApp forward which contains a link claiming to be an installation link of the pink-themed version of the application. 
 
The message, called ‘WhatsApp Pink’, states that WhatsApp's new official version with new features and a pink theme is now available for download. 
 
Although, the link does change the colour of the application to pink, however, ‘WhatsApp Pink’ is among those malicious apps which steal the data like OTPs, contacts, photos and banking details from the phone.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/whatsapp-rolls-out-new-feature-to-silence-spam-calls-606481">WhatsApp rolls out new feature to deal with spam calls</a>

As per media reports, the ‘WhatsApp Pink Scam’ is not a new scamming application and was first exposed by internet security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia in April 2021. 
 
Mumbai Police Cyber Crime Wing also tweeted earlier this month to alert users about the 'Whatsapp Pink' application and shared guidelines on how people can protect their devices from such scams.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
*... WHATSAPP PINK -A Red Alert For Android Users ...*' 
 
*... व्हॉट्सॲप पिंक Android वापरकर्त्यांसाठी रेड अलर्ट ...* 
 
*...व्हाट्सएप गुलाबी (पिंक) Android उपयोगकर्ताओं के लिए एक रेड अलर्ट...*<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CyberSafeMumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CyberSafeMumbai</a> 
 
REGARDS, 
NORTH REGION CYBER POLICE STATION, 
CRIME BRANCH, CID, MUMBAI <a href="https://t.co/viTbVrcWrn">pic.twitter.com/viTbVrcWrn</a>
— NORTH REGION CYBER POLICE CRIME WING (@north_mum) <a href="https://twitter.com/north_mum/status/1669651965733900288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"The news about 'New Pink Look WhatsApp with extra features' which is recently doing rounds among WhatsApp users is a hoax which can lead to hacking of your mobile through malicious software. It is not an uncommon instance to see fraudsters come up with a variety of new tricks and ways to lure gullible users into falling into their trap to commit cyber fraud. It is for the users to be Aware, Alert, and Attentive to these kinds of frauds and remain safe and secure in the digital world," stated the Mumbai Police in its advisory.

<h2 lang="en-US">How to protect your device from WhatsApp Pink-like scams?</h2>

For those who want to protect their devices from such scams, they should always download and install the application from verified sources like Google Play Store. However, iPhone users remain safe from such scams as Apple does not permit the installation of applications from unknown sources.

Watch:&nbsp;

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People should also refrain from installing applications from unknown websites or APKs which are sent by unknown people. One can also check the ‘Forwarded’ label on WhatsApp messages to verify if the message has been forwarded from a friend or it came from somewhere else.

<h2 lang="en-US">Here’s how you can uninstall WhatsApp Pink</h2>

In order to remove WhatsApp Pink, all suspicious devices need to be unlinked from WhatsApp's 'Linked devices’ section. According to the security researcher, once WhatsApp Pink is installed on the device, the app can hide itself from the list of installed apps. 
 
To find the 'hidden' WhatsApp Pink, go to the ‘Apps’ section in the settings app of the phone, look for ‘WhatsApp Pink’ which has the pink logo and click on the uninstall button. The malicious app sometimes has no name in the list of applications, so one should also make sure that those are uninstalled as well.

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A lot of people have been receiving a WhatsApp forward which contains a link claiming to be an installation link of the pink-themed version of the application. The message, called ‘WhatsApp Pink’, states that WhatsApp's new official version with new features and a pink theme is now available for download.

A lot of people have been receiving a WhatsApp forward which contains a link claiming to be an installation link of the pink-themed version of the application. The message, called ‘WhatsApp Pink’, states that WhatsApp's new official version with new features and a pink theme is now available for download. Although, the link does change the colour of the application to pink, however, ‘WhatsApp Pink’ is among those malicious apps which steal the data like OTPs, contacts, photos and banking details from the phone. ALSO READ | WhatsApp rolls out new feature to deal with spam calls As per media reports, the ‘WhatsApp Pink Scam’ is not a new scamming application and was first exposed by internet security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia in April 2021. Mumbai Police Cyber Crime Wing also tweeted earlier this month to alert users about the 'Whatsapp Pink' application and shared guidelines on how people can protect their devices from such scams. *... WHATSAPP PINK -A Red Alert For Android Users ...*' *... व्हॉट्सॲप पिंक Android वापरकर्त्यांसाठी रेड अलर्ट ...* *...व्हाट्सएप गुलाबी (पिंक) Android उपयोगकर्ताओं के लिए एक रेड अलर्ट...*#CyberSafeMumbai REGARDS, NORTH REGION CYBER POLICE STATION, CRIME BRANCH, CID, MUMBAI pic.twitter.com/viTbVrcWrn — NORTH REGION CYBER POLICE CRIME WING (@north_mum) June 16, 2023 × "The news about 'New Pink Look WhatsApp with extra features' which is recently doing rounds among WhatsApp users is a hoax which can lead to hacking of your mobile through malicious software. It is not an uncommon instance to see fraudsters come up with a variety of new tricks and ways to lure gullible users into falling into their trap to commit cyber fraud. It is for the users to be Aware, Alert, and Attentive to these kinds of frauds and remain safe and secure in the digital world," stated the Mumbai Police in its advisory. How to protect your device from WhatsApp Pink-like scams? For those who want to protect their devices from such scams, they should always download and install the application from verified sources like Google Play Store. However, iPhone users remain safe from such scams as Apple does not permit the installation of applications from unknown sources. Watch: People should also refrain from installing applications from unknown websites or APKs which are sent by unknown people. One can also check the ‘Forwarded’ label on WhatsApp messages to verify if the message has been forwarded from a friend or it came from somewhere else. Here’s how you can uninstall WhatsApp Pink In order to remove WhatsApp Pink, all suspicious devices need to be unlinked from WhatsApp's 'Linked devices’ section. According to the security researcher, once WhatsApp Pink is installed on the device, the app can hide itself from the list of installed apps. To find the 'hidden' WhatsApp Pink, go to the ‘Apps’ section in the settings app of the phone, look for ‘WhatsApp Pink’ which has the pink logo and click on the uninstall button. The malicious app sometimes has no name in the list of applications, so one should also make sure that those are uninstalled as well. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Know what is 'Pink WhatsApp scam' and here's how you can protect your phone from it

WhatsApp has announced new security features that would help users avoid fraudsters on the messenger app.

WhatsApp brings 'silence unknown callers' and more privacy features

With time, trends change, and in this digital age, every day a new scam comes to light. The latest scam to shock the world is called "sextortion" and the victims are young men. These scams are happening on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram.

Here's all you need to know:

<h2>What is 'sextortion'?</h2>

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines 'sextortion' as a "serious crime" in which a perpetrator threatens to make public their victim's private information, images, videos or other data. This includes nude images, and more often than not, is done as a way to extort huge sums of money.

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Sending just one explicit image to another person online could become the catalyst for child sexual exploitation and sextortion. Help the FBI <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopSextortion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StopSextortion</a>. <a href="https://t.co/4nclJPCz3H">pic.twitter.com/4nclJPCz3H</a>
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBILosAngeles/status/1669393156977115136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In a conversation with Fox News, a former Snapchat employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said,&nbsp;"The potential harm, especially as it relates to minors, is severe."

He revealed that "We've seen thousands of reports this year. But … the ratio of reported to not reported is pretty high." He alleged that probably less than 5 per cent of the cases actually get reported.

Reportedly, on Snapchat, the issue began popping up more frequently around the beginning of 2021.

<h2>How does 'sextortion' work?</h2>

It's a financially motivated fraud. Do you remember the "Nigerian Princes" who around 20 years ago would email people asking them for "small help"? These days, those emails, and messages from bad actors posing as Nigerian royalty are nothing more than meme material and something that can be used to poke fun at the older generation.&nbsp;

Similarly, sextortion is the latest fraud. In it, similar bad actors target young, gullible men. Posing as attractive young women from the United States or Western Europe, these fraudsters send their victim&nbsp;friend&nbsp;requests.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/previously-undocumented-effect-of-ivf-uncovered-helps-1-in-5-women-conceive-naturally-second-time-around-606828">Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around</a>

Over time, they establish trust and eventually start requesting nudes. Once the victim sends the personal images, these "sextortionists" threaten to post these images online.

Threatening to expose the victims' nudes, they extort money.&nbsp;

As per the Fox News report, the former Snapchat employee told them that in some cases, the scammers paste their target's nude images on fake "FBI Most Wanted" posters. They list them as sex offenders, paedophiles, child rapists and murderers.&nbsp;

Incidentally, as per him, these new scams also mostly originate from Nigeria. However, he says,&nbsp;"It's pretty much understood that when we report this stuff, it's not going anywhere. The FBI doesn't have enough leverage with Nigerian authorities. Nigerian authorities don't have enough resources to do it, anyway."

<h2>Why target young men?</h2>

Simply put, "Young men are not used to this at all."

As per the former Snapchat employee, "They're targeting young men because young men are most likely to fall for this type of scheme."

He further remarked, "Also, young men are not used to&nbsp;being targeted like this."

According to the Fox News report, compared to young men, young women are not so easy to scam through this method. As young girls, they are taught to be cautious while talking to strangers online.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-crimes-of-andrew-tate-what-do-the-charges-say-606788">Explained: The crimes of Andrew Tate. What do the charges say?</a>

In cases where they do become a victim of sextortion, it is mostly about sexual content. They are mostly forced to send more sexually explicit content. However, young men face fraud where money is demanded from them.

Such abuse can have a huge devastating impact on young victims, especially teenagers, who do not know what to do or who to turn to for help.&nbsp;

<h2>Extreme, tragic steps by victims</h2>

In some cases, victims of such sextortion scams end up taking extreme steps. Fox News reports that, in some cases, young people have been known to resort to self-harm and suicide.

Last year, Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old teenager from Michigan, took his own life after falling prey to sextortion. On 25 March 2022, the high school student was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.&nbsp;

<img alt="Jordan DeMay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ab30b5ac-ec31-4a64-a3e6-cd8d9b0092ba" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2819%29_0.png" />

17-year-old&nbsp;Jordan DeMay. Image:&nbsp;Cerfia/Twitter

On Instagram, he was approached by scammers posing as a young woman under the account alias "dani.roberts".

As per Fox News, the account was real, and it belonged to the real Dani Roberts, but was hacked. DeMay's nudes were used to leverage money, but once the young boy found himself unable to cough up any more money, he chose to end his life.

In another similar case, Gavin Guffey, the 17-year-old son of South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey, killed himself after falling prey to a sextortion scam.

Back in July 2022, the young man was tricked by blackmailers posing as a young girl. After sending a nude picture, he faced extortion.&nbsp;

<img alt="Gavin Guffey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7bad894d-1f52-4496-bfde-68954b2cdb58" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2820%29_1.png" />

17-year-old&nbsp;Gavin Guffey (2nd from right) with his family. Image:&nbsp;ClickActu/Twitter

As per a report by UK-based Independent, the recent high-school graduate ended up sending the scammers $25 by Venmo. This was all the money young Gavin Guffey had in his account.&nbsp;

He reportedly begged the blackmailers for time to raise extra money but was only pushed. Under pressure, the teenager chose to kill himself with a self-inflicted gun wound.

Even after his death, the sextortionists reportedly kept up their efforts to extort his family. As per a CNN report from May 2023, Representative Brandon Guffey reported that the messages started just weeks after the 17-year-old's funeral. On August 20, the day young Gavin Guffey would've turned 18, the blackmailers sent his father a message which said, 'Did I tell you your son begged for his life,' with a laughing face emoji. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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With time, trends change, and in this digital age, every day a new scam comes to light. The latest scam to shock the world is called "sextortion" and the victims are young men.

With time, trends change, and in this digital age, every day a new scam comes to light. The latest scam to shock the world is called "sextortion" and the victims are young men. These scams are happening on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. Here's all you need to know: What is 'sextortion'? The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines 'sextortion' as a "serious crime" in which a perpetrator threatens to make public their victim's private information, images, videos or other data. This includes nude images, and more often than not, is done as a way to extort huge sums of money. Sending just one explicit image to another person online could become the catalyst for child sexual exploitation and sextortion. Help the FBI #StopSextortion. pic.twitter.com/4nclJPCz3H — FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) June 15, 2023 × In a conversation with Fox News, a former Snapchat employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "The potential harm, especially as it relates to minors, is severe." He revealed that "We've seen thousands of reports this year. But … the ratio of reported to not reported is pretty high." He alleged that probably less than 5 per cent of the cases actually get reported. Reportedly, on Snapchat, the issue began popping up more frequently around the beginning of 2021. How does 'sextortion' work? It's a financially motivated fraud. Do you remember the "Nigerian Princes" who around 20 years ago would email people asking them for "small help"? These days, those emails, and messages from bad actors posing as Nigerian royalty are nothing more than meme material and something that can be used to poke fun at the older generation. Similarly, sextortion is the latest fraud. In it, similar bad actors target young, gullible men. Posing as attractive young women from the United States or Western Europe, these fraudsters send their victim friend requests. Also read | Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around Over time, they establish trust and eventually start requesting nudes. Once the victim sends the personal images, these "sextortionists" threaten to post these images online. Threatening to expose the victims' nudes, they extort money. As per the Fox News report, the former Snapchat employee told them that in some cases, the scammers paste their target's nude images on fake "FBI Most Wanted" posters. They list them as sex offenders, paedophiles, child rapists and murderers. Incidentally, as per him, these new scams also mostly originate from Nigeria. However, he says, "It's pretty much understood that when we report this stuff, it's not going anywhere. The FBI doesn't have enough leverage with Nigerian authorities. Nigerian authorities don't have enough resources to do it, anyway." Why target young men? Simply put, "Young men are not used to this at all." As per the former Snapchat employee, "They're targeting young men because young men are most likely to fall for this type of scheme." He further remarked, "Also, young men are not used to being targeted like this." According to the Fox News report, compared to young men, young women are not so easy to scam through this method. As young girls, they are taught to be cautious while talking to strangers online. Also read | Explained: The crimes of Andrew Tate. What do the charges say? In cases where they do become a victim of sextortion, it is mostly about sexual content. They are mostly forced to send more sexually explicit content. However, young men face fraud where money is demanded from them. Such abuse can have a huge devastating impact on young victims, especially teenagers, who do not know what to do or who to turn to for help. Extreme, tragic steps by victims In some cases, victims of such sextortion scams end up taking extreme steps. Fox News reports that, in some cases, young people have been known to resort to self-harm and suicide. Last year, Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old teenager from Michigan, took his own life after falling prey to sextortion. On 25 March 2022, the high school student was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 17-year-old Jordan DeMay. Image: Cerfia/Twitter On Instagram, he was approached by scammers posing as a young woman under the account alias "dani.roberts". As per Fox News, the account was real, and it belonged to the real Dani Roberts, but was hacked. DeMay's nudes were used to leverage money, but once the young boy found himself unable to cough up any more money, he chose to end his life. In another similar case, Gavin Guffey, the 17-year-old son of South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey, killed himself after falling prey to a sextortion scam. Back in July 2022, the young man was tricked by blackmailers posing as a young girl. After sending a nude picture, he faced extortion. 17-year-old Gavin Guffey (2nd from right) with his family. Image: ClickActu/Twitter As per a report by UK-based Independent, the recent high-school graduate ended up sending the scammers $25 by Venmo. This was all the money young Gavin Guffey had in his account. He reportedly begged the blackmailers for time to raise extra money but was only pushed. Under pressure, the teenager chose to kill himself with a self-inflicted gun wound. Even after his death, the sextortionists reportedly kept up their efforts to extort his family. As per a CNN report from May 2023, Representative Brandon Guffey reported that the messages started just weeks after the 17-year-old's funeral. On August 20, the day young Gavin Guffey would've turned 18, the blackmailers sent his father a message which said, 'Did I tell you your son begged for his life,' with a laughing face emoji. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: 'Sextortion', the new 'Nigerian prince' scam on Snapchat and Instagram

On Tech It Out, we keep you up to date with new WhatsApp features. In this story, we tell you about a new functionality that could improve your communication experience on WhatsApp.

You can now share your screen on WhatsApp

Meta continues to add new features to its instant messaging platform — WhatsApp. According to a report by WABetaInfo, the company is currently beta testing a new feature on Android devices that allows users to screen share, similar to what one can do on video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

WhatsApp to soon support screen sharing on Android devices

UK and US regulators were aware of and participated in a state-led effort to manipulate interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. As per a BBC report, newly uncovered evidence suggests that the regulators concealed this information.

The evidence as cited by the BBC report suggests that lenders made a significant cut to their interest rate estimates under pressure from central banks. However, when bankers were later prosecuted for smaller-scale interest rate "rigging", this evidence was not presented in court.&nbsp;

While regulators have previously faced allegations of involvement in interest rate manipulation, this evidence reveals a broader international effort by central banks across the Western world.&nbsp;

Allegedly, central banks, including the Bank of England, Banque de France, European Central Bank, Banca d'Italia, Banco de Espana, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, intervened extensively in setting Libor and Euribor rates — benchmark interest rates that track how much it costs banks to borrow from one another — in October 2008.&nbsp;

These actions were apparently aimed at artificially restoring calm to the market during a time when bank lending was nearly held up.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/will-indians-spend-with-rs1000-currency-notes-again-rbi-governor-responds-595187">Will Indians be able to spend using ₹1000 notes again? RBI governor responds</a>

The evidence, which was reportedly disclosed to investigating agencies such as the FBI and UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) in November 2010, was never made public and has been kept secret from Parliament, Congress, and the public.&nbsp;

This information suggests that Parliament may have been "misled" said Andrew Tyrie, the former chair of the UK Treasury Committee of MPs during the Libor inquiry.

In a conversation with BBC, he said that "the evidence that Mr Verity** has unearthed strongly suggests that the committee's inquiry into the Libor scandal was not told the whole truth."&nbsp;

**Financial Journalist Andy Verity is currently working as BBC News' economic correspondent and is behind the newly uncovered evidence.

"The public rely on Parliament to get to the truth. This case illustrates why Parliament should bolster its information-gathering powers with more effective sanctions against those who provide less than the full picture. Parliament appears to have been misled and, if that's the case, should not let it rest," said Tyrie.

The suppressed evidence that as per Verity's report indicates a potential cover-up is a recording from 2010 of an interview between FBI investigator Mike Kelly and Peter Johnson, a Barclays bank employee responsible for submitting Libor rates.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/the-turnaround-story-of-indias-public-sector-banks-594985">The Turnaround Story of India's Public Sector Banks</a>

In the interview, Johnson reveals that in October 2008, he was instructed by his superiors to report artificially low Libor rates that were significantly below the actual interest rates available in the market. He claims that this instruction came under pressure from both the Bank of England and the UK government.

The recording also indicates that the French banks were similarly pressured by the Banque de France.&nbsp;

In the recording, Kelly can be heard asking Johnson: "Did you have any understanding as to why this pressure was being put upon Barclays?"

To this, Johnson replies: "I'm not sure that it was being put just on Barclays."

Kelly: "OK? Who else did you think, was being pressured?"

Johnson: "We understood that the French banks had been told to get their rates down[...]"

Kelly: "What entity was pressuring them?"

Johnson: "We believe it was the Banque du France."

Published data on Euribor submissions during that period support these claims, showing "record falls in banks' estimates of the cost of borrowing euros by French banks - moves only explicable as having been co-ordinated at a national level," writes Verity.

Senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for a fresh investigation, expressing concerns that Parliament may have been misled.&nbsp;

The MP said that the evidence points to "a case to believe that state agencies coerced individuals into perjury that led to false convictions".&nbsp;

The US Department of Justice and the UK's Serious Fraud Office have prosecuted 37 traders for Libor manipulation. However, the prosecutions were done in the absence of this evidence.

The regulators involved have either declined to comment, rebutted the claims, or stated that they followed disclosure rules. The Bank of England labelled the allegations "unsubstantiated," while the European Central Bank "strongly rebut" the assertions which it said "misrepresent the role of a central bank in implementing monetary policy". Responding to the allegations, Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo has reportedly emphasised that it has always acted independently and in full compliance with rate-setting rules. As per Verity, the FBI and the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC) have declined to comment.

(With inputs from agencies)

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UK and US regulators were aware of and participated in a state-led effort to manipulate interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. As per a BBC report, newly uncovered evidence suggests that the regulators concealed this information.

UK and US regulators were aware of and participated in a state-led effort to manipulate interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. As per a BBC report, newly uncovered evidence suggests that the regulators concealed this information. The evidence as cited by the BBC report suggests that lenders made a significant cut to their interest rate estimates under pressure from central banks. However, when bankers were later prosecuted for smaller-scale interest rate "rigging", this evidence was not presented in court. While regulators have previously faced allegations of involvement in interest rate manipulation, this evidence reveals a broader international effort by central banks across the Western world. Allegedly, central banks, including the Bank of England, Banque de France, European Central Bank, Banca d'Italia, Banco de Espana, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, intervened extensively in setting Libor and Euribor rates — benchmark interest rates that track how much it costs banks to borrow from one another — in October 2008. These actions were apparently aimed at artificially restoring calm to the market during a time when bank lending was nearly held up. Also read | Will Indians be able to spend using ₹1000 notes again? RBI governor responds The evidence, which was reportedly disclosed to investigating agencies such as the FBI and UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) in November 2010, was never made public and has been kept secret from Parliament, Congress, and the public. This information suggests that Parliament may have been "misled" said Andrew Tyrie, the former chair of the UK Treasury Committee of MPs during the Libor inquiry. In a conversation with BBC, he said that "the evidence that Mr Verity** has unearthed strongly suggests that the committee's inquiry into the Libor scandal was not told the whole truth." **Financial Journalist Andy Verity is currently working as BBC News' economic correspondent and is behind the newly uncovered evidence. "The public rely on Parliament to get to the truth. This case illustrates why Parliament should bolster its information-gathering powers with more effective sanctions against those who provide less than the full picture. Parliament appears to have been misled and, if that's the case, should not let it rest," said Tyrie. The suppressed evidence that as per Verity's report indicates a potential cover-up is a recording from 2010 of an interview between FBI investigator Mike Kelly and Peter Johnson, a Barclays bank employee responsible for submitting Libor rates. Also read | The Turnaround Story of India's Public Sector Banks In the interview, Johnson reveals that in October 2008, he was instructed by his superiors to report artificially low Libor rates that were significantly below the actual interest rates available in the market. He claims that this instruction came under pressure from both the Bank of England and the UK government. The recording also indicates that the French banks were similarly pressured by the Banque de France. In the recording, Kelly can be heard asking Johnson: "Did you have any understanding as to why this pressure was being put upon Barclays?" To this, Johnson replies: "I'm not sure that it was being put just on Barclays." Kelly: "OK? Who else did you think, was being pressured?" Johnson: "We understood that the French banks had been told to get their rates down[...]" Kelly: "What entity was pressuring them?" Johnson: "We believe it was the Banque du France." Published data on Euribor submissions during that period support these claims, showing "record falls in banks' estimates of the cost of borrowing euros by French banks - moves only explicable as having been co-ordinated at a national level," writes Verity. Senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for a fresh investigation, expressing concerns that Parliament may have been misled. The MP said that the evidence points to "a case to believe that state agencies coerced individuals into perjury that led to false convictions". The US Department of Justice and the UK's Serious Fraud Office have prosecuted 37 traders for Libor manipulation. However, the prosecutions were done in the absence of this evidence. The regulators involved have either declined to comment, rebutted the claims, or stated that they followed disclosure rules. The Bank of England labelled the allegations "unsubstantiated," while the European Central Bank "strongly rebut" the assertions which it said "misrepresent the role of a central bank in implementing monetary policy". Responding to the allegations, Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo has reportedly emphasised that it has always acted independently and in full compliance with rate-setting rules. As per Verity, the FBI and the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC) have declined to comment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK, US banking regulators were instructed to 'rig' interest rates during 2008 financial crisis: Report

WhatsApp Is working on another useful feature that could make your messaging experience better. Watch this report to know more.

Sent a wrong message on WhatsApp? Don't worry, you can fix it

WhatsApp keeps adding new privacy features to keep messages, media, and other important information protected. And not to our surprise, WhatsApp has now given its users an extra layer of protection to secure their chats. Here's more.

You can now hide your intimate chats on WhatsApp

British men are allegedly being offered thousands of pounds by migrant pregnant women to pose as fathers of their babies in the latest citizenship fraud, a BBC investigation revealed on Tuesday.

The scammers are offering up to £10,000 (12,536 USD) to these men to add their names to a child's birth certificate, providing UK citizenship to them and enabling their mothers a route to permanent residency.

The BBC Newsnight probe found out that the fraudsters are predominantly taking the help of the Meta Platform, Facebook, to find out potential clients and claim to have assisted thousands of women through this fraudulent practice.

However, Facebook claims that such content is banned under the rules and regulations of the tech giant.

As per the report, the 'fake father' visa scam is prevalent across various communities in the United Kingdom.

WATCH |&nbsp;British men are taking thousands of pounds to pose as fathers for migrant womens' babies

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<h2>Undercover investigation</h2>

During the undercover investigation, a BBC researcher, posing as a pregnant woman residing illegally in the UK, engaged in conversations with people offering these services.

One of the agents she spoke to, who went by the name Thai, told her that he knew many British men who were willing to act as the 'fake father' and further offered her a full package for £11,000 (13,779 USD).

He assured her that the process was 'very easy' and further asserted that he 'would do everything' to secure a UK passport for the child.

The agent Thai, who unlike other agents did not advertise on social media, said that he would design a compelling backstory to successfully mislead the authorities.

He then introduced the undercover Newsnight researcher to a British man named Andrew who he said would pose as the father. Andrew was promised £8,000 (10,014 USD) from the total fee.

Andrew in order to affirm his claim of being a UK citizen, showed his passport during their meeting and also took selfies with the researcher.

BBC in its report said that it did not pay any money to any of the agents offering the fraudulent service.

On later being confronted about his involvement in the scam, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing and claimed to have no knowledge about the matter.

The investigators further contacted another agent called Thi Kim, who as per the reports, claimed to have helped dozens of migrant pregnant women get residency in the UK.

She further said that he had a British man available for hire for the service and charged a fee of £10,000 (12,536 USD), with her fee being £300 (375.43 USD).

She then told the researcher that all the men in her network that she provided for the 'fake father' service were born in the UK and were "never registered for any babies before".

<h2>‘Incredibly elaborate’ scam</h2>

As per immigration lawyer Ana González, the 'fake father' scam is an 'incredibly elaborate' fraud and some women, just to secure their right to remain in the country, are ready to go to any lengths.

She added that this rule was designed to safeguard children and not to give visas to women without legal documentation in the United Kingdom.

As per the immigration law, if an illegal migrant woman gives birth to a child fathered by a British citizen or a man with indefinite leave to remain, the baby automatically acquires British citizenship by birth.

The mother can then apply for a family visa, which in turn will grant her the right to remain in the country and will allow her to pursue the route to citizenship.

&nbsp;

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British men are allegedly being offered thousands of pounds by migrant pregnant women to pose as fathers of their babies in the latest citizenship fraud, a BBC investigation revealed on Tuesday.

British men are allegedly being offered thousands of pounds by migrant pregnant women to pose as fathers of their babies in the latest citizenship fraud, a BBC investigation revealed on Tuesday. The scammers are offering up to £10,000 (12,536 USD) to these men to add their names to a child's birth certificate, providing UK citizenship to them and enabling their mothers a route to permanent residency. The BBC Newsnight probe found out that the fraudsters are predominantly taking the help of the Meta Platform, Facebook, to find out potential clients and claim to have assisted thousands of women through this fraudulent practice. However, Facebook claims that such content is banned under the rules and regulations of the tech giant. As per the report, the 'fake father' visa scam is prevalent across various communities in the United Kingdom. WATCH | British men are taking thousands of pounds to pose as fathers for migrant womens' babies Undercover investigation During the undercover investigation, a BBC researcher, posing as a pregnant woman residing illegally in the UK, engaged in conversations with people offering these services. One of the agents she spoke to, who went by the name Thai, told her that he knew many British men who were willing to act as the 'fake father' and further offered her a full package for £11,000 (13,779 USD). He assured her that the process was 'very easy' and further asserted that he 'would do everything' to secure a UK passport for the child. The agent Thai, who unlike other agents did not advertise on social media, said that he would design a compelling backstory to successfully mislead the authorities. He then introduced the undercover Newsnight researcher to a British man named Andrew who he said would pose as the father. Andrew was promised £8,000 (10,014 USD) from the total fee. Andrew in order to affirm his claim of being a UK citizen, showed his passport during their meeting and also took selfies with the researcher. BBC in its report said that it did not pay any money to any of the agents offering the fraudulent service. On later being confronted about his involvement in the scam, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing and claimed to have no knowledge about the matter. The investigators further contacted another agent called Thi Kim, who as per the reports, claimed to have helped dozens of migrant pregnant women get residency in the UK. She further said that he had a British man available for hire for the service and charged a fee of £10,000 (12,536 USD), with her fee being £300 (375.43 USD). She then told the researcher that all the men in her network that she provided for the 'fake father' service were born in the UK and were "never registered for any babies before". ‘Incredibly elaborate’ scam As per immigration lawyer Ana González, the 'fake father' scam is an 'incredibly elaborate' fraud and some women, just to secure their right to remain in the country, are ready to go to any lengths. She added that this rule was designed to safeguard children and not to give visas to women without legal documentation in the United Kingdom. As per the immigration law, if an illegal migrant woman gives birth to a child fathered by a British citizen or a man with indefinite leave to remain, the baby automatically acquires British citizenship by birth. The mother can then apply for a family visa, which in turn will grant her the right to remain in the country and will allow her to pursue the route to citizenship. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Fake father’ citizenship scam: British men offered money by migrant women to pose as dads of their child

On Tech It Out, we keep warning you about online scams and other cybercrimes that can rob you of your hard-earned money. A new WhatsApp scam is trying to dupe people. We get you more details about the fraud in this story.

Explained: WhatsApp international call scam

If you are getting missed calls, messages, or calls on WhatsApp from numbers starting with +254, +84, +63, or other international numbers out of the blue, then beware of the most recent scam that is making headlines. The experts, working closely with the Indian government to curb the cybercrime menace, cautioned users of a new Whatsapp cyber fraud and urged people to not respond if they are getting calls from such unknown numbers.

Scam Alert: Getting random calls on WhatsApp from international numbers? Don`t respond!

If you are getting missed calls, messages or calls on WhatsApp from numbers starting with +254, +84, +63 or other international numbers out of the blue, then beware of the most recent scam that is making headlines. The experts, working closely with the Indian government to curb the cybercrime menace, cautioned users of a new Whatsapp cyber fraud and urged people to not respond if they are getting calls from such unknown numbers.

Home Ministry's Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has issued an alert in order to save users from becoming victims of the scam.

<h2>Experts warn of new cybercrime trend</h2>

The experts in data analysis and forensics told ANI that such international numbers have 'Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia' origin and that unscrupulous elements could steal the financial data of people.

"This is a new cybercrime trend. People across India irrespective of their profession have been receiving calls and missed calls on WhatsApp from +254, +84, +63, +1(218) or other international numbers, and some of them have become victims of cybercrime. It has become more frequent," said an expert in cyber intelligence and digital forensics, on condition of anonymity, while speaking to news agency ANI.

<h2>Multiple users report the scam on Twitter</h2>

Recently, multiple users have taken to Twitter and complained about receiving random calls and messages from unknown international numbers on WhatsApp.

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Are you also getting suspicious missed calls on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhatsApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhatsApp</a> from international numbers? Beware, it's a fraud! <a href="https://twitter.com/Cyberdost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cyberdost</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WhatsApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhatsApp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhatsApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhatsApp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#scam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whatsappcallscam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#whatsappcallscam</a> <a href="https://t.co/I2BsnuGrQK">pic.twitter.com/I2BsnuGrQK</a>
— Vivek Singh (@Bigdreamer_vk) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bigdreamer_vk/status/1655607265163104256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Same here..Our data is being sold either from banks or from offices?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Scam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Scam</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhatsAppCallScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhatsAppCallScam</a> <a href="https://t.co/GJ4fFZuakU">https://t.co/GJ4fFZuakU</a>
— Ankit (@_BeingWitty) <a href="https://twitter.com/_BeingWitty/status/1653659313418948608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Cyberabad Police of India's southern state of Telangana also asked WhatsApp users to not respond to such calls. "Many Indian users are receiving international calls on their WhatsApp numbers. We request everyone to remain vigilant and not respond to such calls. Please report and block them immediately, as it is a scam designed to lure people," they tweeted.

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Many Indian users are receiving international calls on their WhatsApp numbers. We request everyone to remain vigilant and not respond to such calls. Please report and block them immediately, as it is a scam designed to lure people.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhatsappScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhatsappScam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayAlert?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayAlert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CyberabadPolice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CyberabadPolice</a> <a href="https://t.co/KqObDh2yKT">https://t.co/KqObDh2yKT</a> <a href="https://t.co/6eitscOESW">pic.twitter.com/6eitscOESW</a>
— Cyberabad Police (@cyberabadpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/cyberabadpolice/status/1655800472261873664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>WhatsApp responds to complaints and grievances, issues statement</h2>

"At WhatsApp, the safety of our users is at the core of everything we do and we have devoted efforts to empower users with resources and tools that equip them to safeguard themselves from scams. WhatsApp is an industry leader in preventing abuse, among end-to-end encrypted messaging services and over the years we have made significant product investments and launched user awareness campaigns that empower users to stay safe. Blocking and Reporting suspicious messages/ calls is an important step to effectively combat scams and when users receive calls from unknown international or domestic phone numbers," it said in a statement to the media.

"Additionally, we have consistently invested in Artificial Intelligence and other state-of-the-art technology, data scientists and experts, and in processes, in order to keep our users safe on our platform. Our monthly user safety report that we publish in accordance with the IT Rules 2021, contains details of the user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp's own preventive actions to combat abuse on our platform. As captured in the latest Monthly Report, WhatsApp banned over 4.7 million accounts in the month of March alone,'' the statement added.

<h2>What should WhatsApp users do?</h2>

Experts suggest that the users, on receiving such random calls and messages, should not respond.&nbsp;Simply ignore or reject them and further 'report and block' those numbers.&nbsp;

"Users should report and block numbers starting with &nbsp;+254, +84, 63 or other international numbers if there are calls or missed call alerts on WhatsApp," said another cyber intelligence and digital forensics expert as quoted by news agency ANI.

These calls and alerts are made or sent by fraudsters at any given time, according to the experts.

"From early morning between 6 am to 7 am or late in the night, such calls are being received by people from all groups whether he or she is a private employee, businessman, retired government officer or even school and college boy or girl. We need to be just aware of such calls."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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If you are getting missed calls, messages or calls on WhatsApp from numbers starting with +254, +84, +63 or other international numbers out of the blue, then beware of the most recent scam that is making headlines.

If you are getting missed calls, messages or calls on WhatsApp from numbers starting with +254, +84, +63 or other international numbers out of the blue, then beware of the most recent scam that is making headlines. The experts, working closely with the Indian government to curb the cybercrime menace, cautioned users of a new Whatsapp cyber fraud and urged people to not respond if they are getting calls from such unknown numbers. Home Ministry's Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre has issued an alert in order to save users from becoming victims of the scam. Experts warn of new cybercrime trend The experts in data analysis and forensics told ANI that such international numbers have 'Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia' origin and that unscrupulous elements could steal the financial data of people. "This is a new cybercrime trend. People across India irrespective of their profession have been receiving calls and missed calls on WhatsApp from +254, +84, +63, +1(218) or other international numbers, and some of them have become victims of cybercrime. It has become more frequent," said an expert in cyber intelligence and digital forensics, on condition of anonymity, while speaking to news agency ANI. Multiple users report the scam on Twitter Recently, multiple users have taken to Twitter and complained about receiving random calls and messages from unknown international numbers on WhatsApp. Are you also getting suspicious missed calls on #WhatsApp from international numbers? Beware, it's a fraud! @Cyberdost @WhatsApp @Meta @Apple #WhatsApp #scam #whatsappcallscam pic.twitter.com/I2BsnuGrQK — Vivek Singh (@Bigdreamer_vk) May 8, 2023 × Same here..Our data is being sold either from banks or from offices?#Scam#WhatsAppCallScam https://t.co/GJ4fFZuakU — Ankit (@_BeingWitty) May 3, 2023 × Cyberabad Police of India's southern state of Telangana also asked WhatsApp users to not respond to such calls. "Many Indian users are receiving international calls on their WhatsApp numbers. We request everyone to remain vigilant and not respond to such calls. Please report and block them immediately, as it is a scam designed to lure people," they tweeted. Many Indian users are receiving international calls on their WhatsApp numbers. We request everyone to remain vigilant and not respond to such calls. Please report and block them immediately, as it is a scam designed to lure people.#WhatsappScam #StayAlert #CyberabadPolice https://t.co/KqObDh2yKT pic.twitter.com/6eitscOESW — Cyberabad Police (@cyberabadpolice) May 9, 2023 × WhatsApp responds to complaints and grievances, issues statement "At WhatsApp, the safety of our users is at the core of everything we do and we have devoted efforts to empower users with resources and tools that equip them to safeguard themselves from scams. WhatsApp is an industry leader in preventing abuse, among end-to-end encrypted messaging services and over the years we have made significant product investments and launched user awareness campaigns that empower users to stay safe. Blocking and Reporting suspicious messages/ calls is an important step to effectively combat scams and when users receive calls from unknown international or domestic phone numbers," it said in a statement to the media. "Additionally, we have consistently invested in Artificial Intelligence and other state-of-the-art technology, data scientists and experts, and in processes, in order to keep our users safe on our platform. Our monthly user safety report that we publish in accordance with the IT Rules 2021, contains details of the user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp's own preventive actions to combat abuse on our platform. As captured in the latest Monthly Report, WhatsApp banned over 4.7 million accounts in the month of March alone,'' the statement added. What should WhatsApp users do? Experts suggest that the users, on receiving such random calls and messages, should not respond. Simply ignore or reject them and further 'report and block' those numbers. "Users should report and block numbers starting with +254, +84, 63 or other international numbers if there are calls or missed call alerts on WhatsApp," said another cyber intelligence and digital forensics expert as quoted by news agency ANI. These calls and alerts are made or sent by fraudsters at any given time, according to the experts. "From early morning between 6 am to 7 am or late in the night, such calls are being received by people from all groups whether he or she is a private employee, businessman, retired government officer or even school and college boy or girl. We need to be just aware of such calls." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Beware! Getting random calls on WhatsApp from international numbers? Don't respond

Cybersecurity has become a topic of discussion after many people have reported online scams where hackers tried to trick them. A team of researchers detected one such case where cybercriminals target people intending to steal their payment information.

Cybersecurity has become a topic of discussion after many people have reported online scams where hackers tried to trick them. A team of researchers detected one such case where cybercriminals target people intending to steal their payment information. Hackers send fraudulent emails using Netflix's branding to deceive individuals. According to the new report by Check Point Research, the phishing campaign has increased since the beginning of 2023. Omer Dembinsky, the data group manager at Check Point Software, stated that cybercriminal groups "orchestrate phishing campaigns" to get people to share their data. "In some cases, attacks are designed to obtain account information, as seen with Raiffeisen campaigns. Others are deployed to steal payment details, which we witnessed with the popular streaming service Netflix," he added. What is the 'Netflix scam' in 2023? The fraudulent email appears to originate from Netflix from an email address like support@bryanadamstribute[.]dk. The subject line is usually "Update required - Account on hold." The message in the email says that Netflix has suspended the user's account due to "failure to authorise payment for next billing cycle." Furthermore, it mentions a link to renew the Netflix subscription and requests the user to enter accurate payment details. However, the link directs users to a malicious website to steal payment details. Thus, the hacker cannot use your payment details or Netflix account until you fill in your information in the form. The cybersecurity company advised people to beware of such emails and report them. In December 2022, a 74-year-old man from Mumbai lost $1,200 while he was trying to restart his Netflix account. People must verify the source of an email requesting a user to reset a password or renew a subscription. ALSO READ | Scientists discover how X chromosome gets its shape, solving one of life's greatest mysteries How to stay safe from cyber scams? Less tech-savvy people are most likely to get scammed by such brand phishing attacks. Appropriate training to spot suspicious traits such as misspelt domains, typos, incorrect dates, and other details can expose a malicious email or link. Here are some tips for users to stay safe from such cyber scams. Sign out of unused or unrecognised devices Be aware of fake messages and websites (phishing) Verify the source (domain) of any email related to payments or passwords. Report fraudulent or suspicious activity to the concerning online streaming platform. Add a phone number for password recovery to your account. Keep your computer safe. Don't share your payment details on suspicious websites. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Netflix Scam 2023: Hackers try stealing users' payment details; Here's how to stay safe

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