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Category: Cybersecurity & CyberSurvellience

  • CBI Captures Fugitive Declared Dead by Court in SBI Fraud Case

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended V. Chalapathi Rao, a proclaimed offender who had evaded capture for 20 years in connection with a bank fraud case. Rao had been declared deceased by a court a few years ago. According to a press release from the CBI on Monday, August 5, 2024, Rao managed to avoid arrest by frequently altering his identity and relocating.

    In May 2002, the CBI registered a case against Rao, who was then employed as a computer operator at the SBI Chandulal Biradari Branch in Hyderabad. He was accused of defrauding the bank of Rs 50 lakh by using fabricated quotations from electronic shops and fake salary certificates created in the names of his family members and close associates. The CBI filed two chargesheets on December 31, 2004, but Rao had been missing since 2004.

    ALSO READ: Jamtara Cyber Crime Kingpins: 4 Arrested for Widespread Online Fraud Across India

    Rao’s wife, also an accused in the fraud case, filed a complaint with the city police and subsequently moved the Civil Court to have Rao declared deceased seven years after his disappearance. A civil court in Hyderabad eventually passed the order.

    Despite Rao’s continuous efforts to evade capture by changing locations, contact numbers, and identities, the CBI persistently pursued leads and ultimately apprehended him in a village in Tamil Nadu. According to information gathered by the CBI, Rao had fled to Salem, where he married a woman in 2007 under the alias M. Vineet Kumar and obtained an Aadhaar number.

    Through his second wife, the CBI learned that Rao was in contact with his son from his first marriage. However, in 2014, Rao left Salem and moved to Bhopal, where he worked as a loan recovery agent, before relocating to Rudrapur in Uttarakhand to work at a school.

    Also read: Bombay High Court to Maharashtra: Where Are Your Cyber Crime Fighters?

    When the CBI team reached Rudrapur, they discovered that Rao had fled in 2016 and moved to an ashram in Verul village, Aurangabad. There, he assumed the identity of Swamy Vidhitatmanand Teertha and obtained another Aadhaar card. In December 2021, Rao allegedly cheated the Ashram of Rs. 70 lakh before relocating to Bharatpur (Rajasthan) as Vidhitatmanand Teertha, where he stayed until July 8 of this year. He then moved to Tirunelveli to stay with one of his disciples, during which time he changed his contact numbers about 10 times and was planning to escape to Sri Lanka by sea.

    Finally, Rao was arrested on August 4 from Narsinganallur village in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, where he was hiding. He was presented before a local court, which remanded him until August 16.

  • Cybercrime News 2024 – Making Cyberspace safe for women and children

    The news article is a User Guide on making cyberspace safe for women and children, providing information on identity theft, trolling, hacking, sexting, cyberbullying, cyber grooming, monetary scams, digital payments security, and being cyber vigilant.

    PHISHING

    Scammers may send deceptive emails to steal credentials, offenders can clone credit/debit card information. Follow security measures. 12 letters, numbers, symbols in passwords, enable two-factor authentication, check financial accounts often. Set up alerts, avoid untrusted links, never give personal information, shred documents, choose paperless billing. Report on national cyber crime portal.

    NATIONAL CYBER CRIME HELPLINE NUMBER

    In 1930, guidelines on spotting and dealing with trolls were introduced, emphasizing ignoring and reporting. Trolls aim to bring people down emotionally and mentally, using off-topic remarks, refusal to acknowledge evidence, and a dismissive tone. By not engaging with trolls and reporting them, they can be suspended or banned according to site policies.

    HACKING

    Computer hackers and online predators can steal money, open accounts, and sell personal information.

    SAFEGAURDS AGAINST HACKING

    The section covers tips on online safety, combating cyberbullying, and the do’s and don’ts of handling cyberbullying.

    • Use a two-way firewall and extreme caution in chat rooms to protect personal and financial information online.
    • Report explicit content immediately and block individuals who make you uncomfortable.
    • Combat cyberbullying by saving evidence, reporting to content providers, and seeking police/legal action if necessary.
    • Follow the do’s and don’ts of cyberbullying, including being empathetic, collecting evidence, and not retaliating against bullies.

    SIGNS OF CYBER GROOMING

    Constant messages on different platforms urging secrecy, leading to inappropriate messages and personal information requests. Blackmail attempts follow.

    COMBATING CYBER GROOMING

    Beware of scammers online, as 1930 is the national cyber crime helpline number. Avoid sharing personal details, accepting friend requests from unknown people, and falling for guaranteed loan approval ads. Always check for ‘https’ in the lender’s website URL.

    HOW TO SECURE DIGITAL PAYMENTS?

    Review account statements frequently for unauthorized transactions. Don’t share login details or OTP. Use strong password with special characters. Enable two-factor authentication for online purchases.

    NATIONAL CYBER CRIME HELPLINE NUMBER

    False information from 1930 is being spread, raising questions about its origin and accuracy. Fact-checking is essential.

    WHERE CAN I FACT CHECK?

    Use factcheck.telangana.gov.in or factly.in to verify news, hoaxes, scams. Reverse image search for viral images.

    HOW TO BE CYBER VIGILANT?

    Keep software and operating systems updated, use antivirus software, set social networking profiles to private, and use strong passwords for all accounts. Avoid opening attachments in spam emails and giving bank account details to unknown people. Be cautious while using public wifi hotspots.

    GOLDEN RULES TO FOLLOW ONLINE!

    Be cautious online, as not everyone is who they claim to be; avoid sharing personal information.