New Delhi. To stop the growing cyber threat, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed to block 392 mobile handsets across India. These handsets were identified as being used in the Electricity KYC update scam. To carry out this scam, fraudsters contact people through SMS and WhatsApp, posing as officials of the electricity department. In these messages, users are asked to update their KYC (Know Your Customer) details. If this is not done the electricity to the house will be cut off.
These sent messages usually contain a dangerous link in which personal information is asked. Fraudsters misuse this information for financial fraud. This action of the Department of Telecommunications comes after the increase in complaints received through ‘Chakshu’ platform. ‘Chakshu’ is a government initiative that allows citizens to report suspected fraudulent communications.
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Acting on these reports, the DoT used AI-powered analysis on the ‘Chakshu’ portal to identify a network of fraudulent activity. This analysis revealed that there is a connection between 392 mobile handsets and more than 31,740 mobile numbers involved in the scam. Based on these findings, the Department of Telecommunications asked telecom companies to block the identified mobile numbers and handsets across the country.
Stay away from Electricity KYC Update Scam like this:
- Do not click on any suspicious link or download attachment coming in the name of Electricity Department.
- Never share your bank details, OTPs or account numbers with anyone in text messages.
- If you have any doubt about the message, then contact the electricity department through their official site or phone number.
- To keep your electricity account safe, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
Tags: Cyber Crime, cyber fraud, Tech news
FIRST PUBLISHED: June 19, 2024, 19:44 IST
