Latest news with #OTP
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
E-mail verification via OTP for all RTI requests starting Jun 16: Govt
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Centre will implement e-mail verification via a one-time password ( OTP ) from June 16 for all RTI applications , according to an official statement issued on aim is to enhance citizen privacy and data security , besides strengthening the portal's cybersecurity framework, it can file Right to Information (RTI) applications through the portal -- -- which also allows users to file appeals and know their status."To enhance citizen privacy and data security, and to strengthen the portal's cybersecurity framework, email verification via OTP will be implemented for all RTI requests starting Monday, June 16, 2025," read a message on the website under the administrative control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
PF Withdrawal Via ATM, Free ESIC Treatment & More: 5 Major Overhaul In EPFO 3.0; Rollout Likely This Month
photoDetails english 2909765 Updated:Jun 02, 2025, 09:45 AM IST EPFO To Undergo Major Digital Overhaul 1 / 7 Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has confirmed that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is all set for a major digital overhaul. The changes were expected to rollout between end of May or June. Since there was no activity on EPFO Version 3.0 last month, it is mostly expected that the new rules might kick in from June 2025. EPFO Version 3.0 2 / 7 EPFO Version 3.0 will undergo numerous changes with regards to auto-claim settlements, digital corrections, and ATM-based fund withdrawals, Mandaviya had told a news agency. Here are looking at 5 such upcoming changes. 1. EPFO Seamless Process 3 / 7 The new version will eliminate the need for complex and lengthy form-filling processes or physical visits for claims and corrections. 2. EPFO A/C Update With OTP verification 4 / 7 Beneficiaries will be able to update their EPFO accounts and mandates using OTP verification and conveniently monitor their pension entitlements or withdraw funds. 3. Integration Of Social Security Schemes 5 / 7 Mandaviya said the government is also considering the integration of various social security schemes, including the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana, and Shramik Jan Dhan Yojana, to streamline and strengthen pension coverage. Beneficiaries under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will soon be able to receive free medical treatment at hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. 4. Charity-Run Private Hospitals Under ESIC Ambit 6 / 7 Designated charity-run private hospitals will also be brought under ESIC ambit to expand social security coverage. Currently, ESIC provides free treatment to about 18 crore people through 165 hospitals, over 1,500 dispensaries and around 2,000 empanelled hospitals. 5. Members To Soon Withdraw PF Through UPI And ATM 7 / 7 The EPFO plans to launch a ground-breaking new PF withdrawal method via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra had previously told news agency ANI, the ministry has approved NPCI's recommendation, and members may withdraw PF through UPI and ATM by the end of May or June this year. This may also be a good pilot for members of other schemes like the General Provident Fund (GPF) of Govt Employees of the Public Provident Fund (PPF) of Banks.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Economic Times
Man lands in Bengaluru airport and shares how he got scammed by fake cab driver: 'Felt helpless'
A Bengaluru airport passenger faced deception. A man posing as an Uber driver tricked the passenger. He asked for OTP and demanded more money. The passenger paid ₹1000, more than the actual fare. This incident highlights the need for caution. Passengers should verify driver details before getting into the car. Never share OTP without confirming driver identity. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In today's world, where fake calls and digital frauds are on the rise, the average person isn't just vulnerable online—they're also at risk while navigating everyday spaces. A troubling incident recently came to light on the Bengaluru subreddit, where a Reddit user recounted being deceived by a man pretending to be a cab driver. The experience, which unfolded in the early hours of the morning, serves as a stark reminder of how easy it is to fall prey to scammers, especially when tired and user had just landed at Kempegowda International Airport around 3 a.m. and arranged a cab through the Uber app, which showed a fare of Rs 800. While waiting at the official ride-hailing pickup area, a stranger approached and claimed he was the assigned driver. He mentioned that his vehicle was parked at a short distance away, and the traveler, assuming this was part of standard procedure, followed him without much man appeared trustworthy and asked for the security OTP linked to the ride. However, midway through the interaction, he stepped aside to take a call. Roughly ten minutes into the ride, he asked for the OTP once more, saying the previous one hadn't gone through. This time, the passenger noticed something suspicious—the app on the supposed driver's phone didn't resemble the usual Uber interface. That moment triggered hesitation, the imposter abruptly suggested canceling the cab booking and instead use, another ride service, for which he claimed the fare would be nearly Rs 1600—double the original price. The victim, who didn't have the app installed, declined the the scammer continued to pressure the passenger to pay a higher amount than the initial fare. After a tense exchange, and feeling stuck in a vulnerable position, the individual ended up handing over Rs 1000—more than the original Uber cost but less than what the fake driver was demanding. The sense of being cheated lingered long after the ride encounter highlights a crucial safety lesson for anyone using ride-hailing apps, especially during late hours. Always confirm the driver's name, vehicle number, and app interface before stepping into any car. Never share your OTP unless you've verified the driver through the app itself. A little extra caution could mean the difference between a safe journey and an expensive alert. Cross-check everything. Because in a world full of impersonators, even a moment of trust can come with a heavy price.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Rising scam alert: Fake FICA notices and extortion tactics target bank customers
There has been a significant rise in extortion, email, and text scams (phishing) targeting banking customers in recent months. Standard Bank's Head of Fraud Risk Management, Adv. Athaly Khan, warns against the growing sophistication of these schemes, with fraudsters continually adapting their tactics to deceive individuals into sharing sensitive information. In some cases, victims are even coerced into transferring money into the fraudsters' accounts. Standard Bank offered these general tips to avoid falling victim to fraudsters: Verify authenticity: Always verify the authenticity of any app or communication claiming to be from a financial institution. Always verify the authenticity of any app or communication claiming to be from a financial institution. Do not share confidential information: Never share credentials such as PINs, passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs) with any third-party. Never share credentials such as PINs, passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs) with any third-party. Report suspicious activity: If you encounter any suspicious activity or believe you have been targeted by a scam, report it immediately to your financial institution and the relevant authorities. If you encounter any suspicious activity or believe you have been targeted by a scam, report it immediately to your financial institution and the relevant authorities. Use strong passwords: Ensure that you use strong and unique passwords for your online or digital banking platforms. Ensure that you use strong and unique passwords for your online or digital banking platforms. Enable two-factor authentication: Where possible, enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of security. Here are common tactics used by scammers in recent months and ways to protect yourself: Fake non-compliance notifications Fraudsters are exploiting the bank's need for compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). They are purporting to be the bank, sending customer's emails and SMSs, claiming that their accounts are not FICA compliant. 'Their emails and SMSs include malicious links, urging customers to click on or risk their account being blocked or closed,' Khan explained. 'Upon clicking on the link, customers may be routed to a fake login site or prompted to capture sensitive information such as their card number, expiry date, customer verification value (CVV), or One-Time-Pin (OTP). In some instances, the link may cause disruption on the customer's device, giving the fraudsters remote access and total control.' Extortion Scams Extortion scams often involve threats to harm individuals, expose sensitive personal information about them or tarnish their reputations unless a ransom is paid. 'We're increasingly seeing fraudsters impersonate respected bodies such as the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), SARS or the SAPS,' Khan explained. 'They claim to be investigating customers for serious offences, anything from fraud to money-laundering. In some schemes, victims are given a fake account number and instructed to transfer all their funds for the duration of the investigation. In others, the criminals allege they possess compromising material such as private photographs, financial records or other personal details, and demand payment in exchange for keeping it confidential.' Khan further said that these fraudsters go to extreme lengths to convince the targeted individual that they are from legitimate authorities. This includes telephone calls, emails, documents and they sometimes suggest physical meetings. 'The internet has become a prime hunting ground for fraudsters. Customers need to be wary of information they share on social media platforms as cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their orchestration,' Khan added. What to do if you are targeted: Stay calm, do not panic. Fraudsters often use fear to manipulate victims. Take time to verify the legitimacy of the claims. Never send money or click on a link in response to unsolicited messages. Legitimate organisations, including banks, will never ask for payments or sensitive information this way. If you believe your bank account may be compromised, contact your bank's fraud department right away. They can help you secure your account and investigate the issue. Regularly review your bank and credit card statements and report any suspicious activity. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
AskDISHA 2.0: Book, cancel, track train & refunds with IRCTC's new AI
Booking a train ticket online in India is usually tedious because the website for it is vast. The Indian Railways is fixing that with an artificial intelligence (AI) personal assistant that can book and cancel tickets, and even check refunds for you. AskDISHA 2.0, an upgraded AI chatbot, seeks to be the virtual concierge for India's 13 million daily railway passengers. What is AskDISHA 2.0? AskDISHA, short for Digital Interaction to Seek Help Anytime, was launched in 2018 by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) to automate customer support. AskDISHA 2.0, developed in collaboration with AI firm brings voice-enabled and multilingual interaction to railway travellers. According to IRCTC, AskDISHA 2.0 handles lakhs of queries daily and it can respond in English, Hindi, Hinglish and Gujarati as more languages are added to the service. Why AskDISHA matters for India Railways runs more than 7,000 passenger trains daily and it has a track network of 108,706 km, making it one of the largest and busiest transport systems in the world. AskDISHA 2.0 helps IRCTC by streamlining ticketing, providing instant support, and reducing dependence on physical counters and call centers. Key features of AskDISHA 2.0 Voice and text chat: Available in several Indian languages. No passwords required: Login via OTP for quick access. Refund status on demand: Check refunds instantly by PNR. Passenger data storage: Frequent traveler info is saved. Quick retry for failed payments: Retry payments within 15 minutes. TDR filing assistance: Track status of Ticket Deposit Receipts. How to use AskDISHA 2.0 Available on IRCTC's website and mobile app, AskDISHA 2.0 functions as a one-stop hub for digital railway queries. To book a ticket: Type or speak 'Book ticket' Share travel details like source, destination, and class. Select from available trains and authenticate using OTP. Make payment and receive e-tickets. To cancel a ticket: Say 'Cancel ticket' Authenticate and select the PNR. Confirm cancellation and wait for SMS/email confirmation. To track refund: Ask 'Refund status?' Enter PNR or transaction ID. Get real-time updates from IRCTC servers. The bigger picture Indian Railways is the largest rail network in Asia and the second-largest under single management globally. Each day, it operates: 11,000 trains, including 7,000 for passengers 7,566 locomotives Over 222,000 freight wagons and 37,840 coaches Why does AI matter to Railways? For the average Indian commuter, whether traveling to work, home, or a pilgrimage, AskDISHA 2.0 is more than a chatbot. It's a way to interact with an infrastructure giant that touches nearly every corner of the country. From its online ticketing portal used by over 80 million users to its Rail Neer water and Smart Card initiatives, Indian Railways is modernizing, and AskDISHA is at the front of that push. With IRCTC also operating air-conditioned food plazas, online tourist packages, and internet ticketing, the addition of AI makes the system smarter, quicker, and more accessible than ever. Next time you're planning a trip, just open the IRCTC app and say: 'AskDISHA, book my ticket.'
