INTERACTION WITH INDUSTRY BODY OF OKHLA INDUSTRIAL AREA ON NEWLY EMERGED TREND OF CYBER CRIME
- Emerging trend of big financial frauds through fake/spoofed emails.
Cyber-crime which are generally either online frauds to cause financial loss to the victims or social-crime causing injury to the reputation of victims are happening these days. Complaints related to cyber-crime are received by police and they are posing new kind of challenges every day as new technologies are emerging. Some specific trends and patterns are noticed if minute scrutiny and analysis of such complaints is carried out. While dealing with such complaints, one such trend has been identified by District Cyber Cell of South-East District, which is related to fraudulent online transaction through fake emails to get the money transferred to the wrong bank accounts especially in Okhla Industrial Area which is hub for commercial activities at large level.
It has further been noticed that these types of online frauds are being committed by sending instruction for transferring amount to a certain bank account through fake emails purportedly from higher authorities. These emails are shown to be sent either from the similar Email ID as that of higher authority in the respective organization or it is deceptively similar to deceive the recipients for acting upon the instruction conveyed in email. One, who is well versed with the technology, it is not difficult for him to spoof the email ID whereas similarly deceptive email ID may be created by anyone having criminal bend of mind. Further analysis of such transfer suggests that in maximum instances, the money is got transferred in accounts of banks situated in India which are either got opened on fake IDs or belong to innocent account holders are who are not even aware of legal consequences of allowing their accounts for such transactions. Some fraudsters got the money transferred in accounts of merchants by representing that they do not have account in India and they would get the money transferred directly in the account of seller. In such cases, the access amount transferred in the account of seller is taken back in cash by the fraudster.
In another kind of online fraud, the email communication between two business entities is continuously watched and when bank accounts details are exchanged through emails for transferring the amount, the genuine email is intercepted to replace it with fake email containing account details of fraudsters. As, such email is generally in continuation of ongoing communications discussing the related business deal and shown to have come from the similar email ID, so probability of falling prey to such evil tricks is very high. In such instances, the money on stake is generally high and money is transferred to the banks situated overseas. In most of such cases, the recipient banks are situated in UK and in some cases in US also . The amount is also seen to be transferred to the African countries.
The best way is to adopt preventive action by spreading awareness among stakeholders instead of going for detection and follow-up investigation.
In order to take preventive steps for such crime, an initiative has been taken by Cyber Cell of South-East District in coordination with SHO/Okhla Indl. Area, by calling a meeting of Association of business owners of Okhla Industrial Area at 4:00 PM on 21.06.2017 in conference hall, DCP office, Sarita Vihar to make them aware about the emerging trend of cyber-crime in their area and to suggest them the preventive measures to avoid such crimes. The meeting was chaired by undersighned there were discussions with the participants in connection with cyber related issues. Sh. Rajeev Kumar, Incharge, District Cyber Cell gave a presentation with case studies and suggestion for prevention of such crime.
In view of growing online fraud through fake emails, apart from explaining the business of online fraud to the participants and suggesting them to have all IT security arrangement in place with regular Security Audit, it has also been suggested to evolve a system of confirming the transaction related information through alternative mode of communication in addition to the emails. If any amount is to be transferred through online banking channel, then the details of transaction must be confirmed through fax, whatsapp, telephone, SMS etc. and not to remain depend only on email.
The meeting was attended by 45 industrialist and businessmen from Okhla Industrial Area. There had been very constructive and meaning full discussion on cyber related issues. Participants conveyed their desire to work closely with District Cyber Cell for ensuring better cyber security of their business setups.
(ROMIL BANIYA ),IPS
DEPUTY. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
SOUTH- EAST DISTRICT, NEW DELHI.
Source: Delhi Police (PR Cell)
