Mumbai cyber police hold awareness session on OTP, PIN safety and digital arrest scams
South Cyber Police Station officers told staff at J J Hospital never to share OTPs or PINs, and said no agency conducts a "digital arrest" over video call.
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With digital transactions rising, cyber fraud cases are also increasing. To make citizens, officials and employees in Mumbai aware of cyber safety, a special "Cyber Jangjagruti" session was held under the "Seva Sankalp Abhiyan". The session was organised by the South Cyber Police Station at the Pharmacy Department of J J Hospital and in the Sanrakshan Mantralaya hall.
Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Desale and Police Constable Imran Mulani of cyber security were present. They gave the officials and employees attending detailed information on the different types of cyber crime, the methods of fraud and the precautions to take against them.
Speaking about the "digital arrest" scams and calls from fake government officials now widespread, the session made it clear that no government agency or police force ever "digitally arrests" a person on a video call and demands money. People were urged not to panic if they receive such a call, and to become alert at once.
It was stressed that the OTP, UPI and ATM PIN, CVV and password must not be shared with anyone during a money transaction. Attendees were also told that a UPI PIN or QR code is not needed to receive money.
People were also warned about fraud through fake share investment and trading schemes, tempting part-time job offers, fake links and customer care numbers. They were advised not to download remote access apps such as AnyDesk and QuickSupport at the instruction of a stranger.
Fraud can also be committed by misusing AI-generated fake voices and deepfake videos. People were therefore urged to verify information received on social media or any other digital medium before forwarding it. Guidance was also given on keeping two-step verification switched on and using privacy settings properly to keep social media accounts safer.
Assistant Police Inspector Desale urged people that if they fall victim to cyber fraud, they should, without wasting time, call the cyber helpline number 1930 or file a complaint on the cybercrime.gov.in portal.
