Telangana police warn public against fake donation requests amid border tensions
cyber crime
police at the state and national level, cautioned the public against falling prey to such tactics. Officials urged people to be watchful of these
fake donation requests
and not respond to them. They also asked them to be on the lookout for any links, messages or apk files in the name of '
Operation Sindoor
', that ask people to click on them for updates on the Operation or to seek funds. Cops said that the public must, instead, immediately report these fake requests to the cyber crime helpline 1930."Be cautious during these challenging times. Before trusting any information found on social media, please check its authenticity. Report fake accounts," posted the handle CyberDost, Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Union home ministry, on X.Similarly, Telangana's cyber security bureau issued an alert, notifying all units of
Telangana police
to be on the lookout for such cyberattacks and act on them immediately.
Though no cases have been reported in the state so far officials said that fraudsters can attack through calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages, links, and even through different social media platforms. "So far, there is no request from the govt or the armed forces seeking financial support. People are advised to follow only the official communication from the concerned authorities or verify the same with the nearest available authorities to prevent any financial losses," said an official.Cops urged people receiving such requests to report them even if they do not lose any money.
Operation Sindoor
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In addition, they also advised the public to be vigilant to misinformation being widely circulated on social media platforms, and not share any communication unless the origin of a message is from official or trusted sources. "Misinformation and fear-mongering around Operation Sindoor are under strict surveillance. Report false content on WhatsApp at 8712672222," Telangana cybersecurity bureau posted on X. During the Covid-19 pandemic, cyber criminals had exploited the situation and extorted money from individuals under the guise of donations, vaccines, etc. "Since they are known to loot people by taking advantage of ongoing situations, we urge the people, especially the elderly, to be extra cautious of any such requests," a bureau official told TOI.
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