The growing string of scandals

The most important rule to stay safe from online or digital scams is: always be vigilant and do not take any hasty steps. Fraudsters often lure people into fear or big gains. Here are some key tips to avoid scams and cyber fraud: 1. Keep personal information completely confidential • Do not share OTP and PIN: Do not share your bank's UPI PIN, ATM PIN, net banking password, or OTP with anyone under any circumstances. Bank officials never ask for this information over the phone. • Security of Documents: Do not share personally identifiable information such as Aadhaar card, PAN card or bank account number to unknown people. 2. Caution on Conversations and Calls • Avoid 'Digital Arrests' and Fake Officers: Nowadays, thugs intimidate themselves by posing as police, CBI, ED or RBI officials. Keep in mind that no government agency arrests anyone on a video call (WhatsApp/Telegram) or asks for money to be transferred. • Don't give in to rush pressure: If someone scares you that "your account will be blocked immediately" or "the lottery prize will get out of hand", stop. Honest entities give you time to think, while scammers pressure you to make decisions right away. 3. Digital and Online Security • Do not click on suspicious links: Do not open any unknown links or QR codes received on email, SMS, or WhatsApp without checking them. These can download malware to your phone. • Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Keep two-factor authentication on your social media and banking apps on. This keeps your account safe even if the password is leaked. • Avoid Fake Websites: Always check the URL of the website while shopping online. Secure websites have 'HTTPS' and a small lock icon in their addresses. 4. Vigilance in money transactions • No payment through gift cards or unknown means: If someone asks you to send money instantly through a gift card, cryptocurrency, or a particular wallet, understand that it is a scam. • More