Jio alerted its users against imposters who are asking for personal information in the name of pending eKYC to empty users’ bank accounts.
Jio alerted its users against imposters who are asking for personal information in the name of pending eKYC to empty users’ bank accounts.
One of India’s largest telecom service providers, Jio, has cautioned its customers about imposters requesting their Aadhaar, bank accounts, OTPs, and other personal information under the guise of an upcoming eKYC. Fraudsters coerce customers into divulging their information by threatening to interfere with their Jio services if they don’t. Messages from them often include a number for customers to call and provide information.
A third-party app is installed on the users’ phones when they dial the provided number. The app gives scammers remote access to the customer’s phone and any associated financial accounts.
The latest method used by scammers to deceive people is to pretend that eKYC is being updated. Here, a fraudster will pose as a service provider and ask you for sensitive information like your Aadhaar number and bank account information, among others.
We see these things daily, yet despite repeated warnings from banks, service providers, and the central bank, some people fall victim to such a trap.
According to Jio, it never requires users to download any form of application from a third party.
Customers of Jio received emails from the telecom company warning them about recent cases of cyber fraud in which imposters pretended to be Jio representatives and insisted on getting information about their Aadhaar, bank accounts, OTPs, and other personal details, mostly under the guise of pending eKYC.
“In these fake contacts, it is stressed that Jio services will be affected if the consumer does not submit the documents to complete the eKYC. Typically, a callback number is also provided to provide the information. When a customer calls the number provided, they are instructed to download a third-party app, which gives crooks direct access to the user’s phone and any connected bank accounts, the statement continued.
It has occurred before as well, and Jio previously warned its customers about eKYC thefts. The telecom company has warned its customers about the rise in online fraud and scams. Reliance Jio has also disclosed the strategies that scammers employ to con helpless victims.
Along with Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea issued similar alerts about eKYC frauds earlier this year for their users. The business has provided its clients with six key things they should not do and the reasons why they are risky.
Suggestions for Jio users
Users of Jio should connect to the MyJio app and search for pertinent information if they have any doubts.
- Never click on suspicious attachments or links, users. Additionally, they must never give personal information in response to unwanted emails, messages, or phone calls.
- Users should avoid downloading remote access apps because doing so will give criminals access to all of their phone’s data.
- For apps and online accounts, users should generate special passwords and PINs, and they should change them frequently.
- Your 20-digit SIM number, listed at the rear, should never be shared with anybody.
- Users should regularly review their bank statements and notify the bank of any abnormalities right away.
What is eKYC, and how can it be used for fraud?
Electronic customer identity verification, or e-KYC, is the process of electronically confirming the customer’s credentials. Your identity is confirmed electronically, and the service provider has access to the specifics of your Aadhaar through the database of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This process is also known as Aadhaar-based eKYC. In doing so, you instantaneously supply the service provider with documentation of your identity and address, doing away with the need for time-consuming in-person verification.
The eKYC system was created to enable user registration with a minimum amount of paper effort and documentation. Additionally, eKYC takes a lot less time to complete the physical registration process than a traditional KYC does. Because your Aadhar Card serves as the means of authentication, this technology is sometimes referred to as Aadhar-based eKYC. In essence, eKYC is a free substitute for conventional user verification.
The RBI website identifies this kind of scam as “Vishing.” Scammers will call their victims under the guise of a bank, non-bank e-wallet provider, or a telecom company to trick them into divulging personal information under the pretence of updating their KYC, unblocking their accounts or SIM cards, crediting their debit balances, etc.
Phishing, according to the RBI website, is defined as “spoofed emails and/or SMSs meant to fool clients into thinking the message has come from their bank/e-wallet provider and contain links to extract confidential details.”
Vodafone Idea (Vi) warned its customers of scammers who would ask them to update their KYC information in July 2021. It has been brought to our attention that some Vi clients are receiving SMS and Calls from unknown numbers demanding them to update their KYC urgently, the company claims.
The victims of these frauds may end up losing several lakhs of rupees. It should be emphasized that throughout this, the fraudster won’t allow the victim to hang up the phone for fear that they would notice the bank messages about the unauthorized transactions the latter is carrying out. The con artist cuts the connection after the scam is finished. When the victims finally discover what has happened, they have already lost a significant sum of money—in some cases, even their whole life savings.
There are numerous varieties of fraud. Because of this, scammers assume the roles of Customer Care representatives for businesses whose services the victim has shown interest in, either through web searches or through portals like JustDial. To receive the online service, they demand that the victim download the remote-watching App and pay a small nominal fee (Rs.1/2/5). According to Cyber cell Delhi, they steal the card information when the victim makes a purchase and then use remote access to the victim’s phone to carry out repeated, unauthorized UPI transactions.
If you ever fall victim to this fraud, you can file a complaint by adhering to the guidelines listed below. This process is similar to that described on the Cyber Cell Delhi website.
Use these steps to submit a complaint.
- A summary of the complaint’s details, including contact information for the alleged offender/website and the concomitant con
- Make a copy of the allegedly fake emails, profiles, or SMSs, or take a screenshot of them.
- Compile the necessary evidence such as screenshots, bank transaction statements, etc.)
- Submit a report detailing the entire incident and all supporting documentation to the local police station.
- Create a soft copy of each of the aforementioned papers, and provide the investigating officer with a CD-R containing them.
Edited by Prakriti Arora
