#FactCheck- Viral Video Misleadingly Linked to Iran–US Tensions and Kuwait Military Base Claim

Introduction

In the boundless world of the internet—a digital frontier rife with both the promise of connectivity and the peril of deception—a new spectre stealthily traverses the electronic pathways, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty. This insidious entity, cloaked in the mantle of supposed authority, preys upon the unsuspecting populace navigating the virtual expanse. And in the heart of India's vibrant tapestry of diverse cultures and ceaseless activity, Mumbai stands out—a sprawling metropolis of dreams and dynamism, yet also the stage for a chilling saga, a cyber charade of foul play and fraud.

The city's relentless buzz and hum were punctuated by a harrowing tale that unwound within the unassuming confines of a Kharghar residence, where a 46-year-old individual's brush with this digital demon would unfold. His typical day veered into the remarkable as his laptop screen lit up with an ominous pop-up, infusing his routine with shock and dread. This deceiving popup, masquerading as an official communication from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), demanded an exorbitant fine of Rs 33,850 for ostensibly browsing adult content—an offence he had not committed.

The Cyber Deception

This tale of deceit and psychological warfare is not unique, nor is it the first of its kind. It finds echoes in the tragic narrative that unfurled in September 2023, far south in the verdant land of Kerala, where a young life was tragically cut short. A 17-year-old boy from Kozhikode, caught in the snare of similar fraudulent claims of NCRB admonishment, was driven to the extreme despair of taking his own life after being coerced to dispense Rs 30,000 for visiting an unauthorised website, as the pop-up falsely alleged.

Sewn with a seam of dread and finesse, the pop-up which appeared in another recent case from Navi Mumbai, highlights the virtual tapestry of psychological manipulation, woven with threatening threads designed to entrap and frighten. In this recent incident a 46-year-old Kharghar resident was left in shock when he got a pop-up on a laptop screen warning him to pay Rs 33,850 fine for surfing a porn website. This message appeared from fake website of NCRB created to dupe people. Pronouncing that the user has engaged in browsing the Internet for some activities, it delivers an ultimatum: Pay the fine within six hours, or face the critical implications of a criminal case. The panacea it offers is simple—settle the demanded amount and the shackles on the browser shall be lifted.

It was amidst this web of lies that the man from Kharghar found himself entangled. The story, as retold by his brother, an IT professional, reveals the close brush with disaster that was narrowly averted. His brother's panicked call, and the rush of relief upon realising the scam, underscores the ruthless efficiency of these cyber predators. They leverage sophisticated deceptive tactics, even specifying convenient online payment methods to ensnare their prey into swift compliance.

A glimmer of reason pierced through the narrative as Maharashtra State cyber cell special inspector general Yashasvi Yadav illuminated the fraudulent nature of such claims. With authoritative clarity, he revealed that no legitimate government agency would solicit fines in such an underhanded fashion. Rather, official procedures involve FIRs or court trials—a structured route distant from the scaremongering of these online hoaxes.

Expert Take

Concurring with this perspective, cyber experts facsimiles. By tapping into primal fears and conjuring up grave consequences, the fraudsters follow a time-worn strategy, cloaking their ill intentions in the guise of governmental or legal authority—a phantasm of legitimacy that prompts hasty financial decisions.

To pierce the veil of this deception, D. Sivanandhan, the former Mumbai police commissioner, categorically denounced the absurdity of the hoax. With a voice tinged by experience and authority, he made it abundantly clear that the NCRB's role did not encompass the imposition of fines without due process of law—a cornerstone of justice grossly misrepresented by the scam's premise.

New Lesson 

This scam, a devilish masquerade given weight by deceit, might surge with the pretence of novelty, but its underpinnings are far from new. The manufactured pop-ups that propagate across corners of the internet issue fabricated pronouncements, feigned lockdowns of browsers, and the spectre of being implicated in taboo behaviours. The elaborate ruse doesn't halt at mere declarations; it painstakingly fabricates a semblance of procedural legitimacy by preemptively setting penalties and detailing methods for immediate financial redress.

Yet another dimension of the scam further bolsters the illusion—the ominous ticking clock set for payment, endowing the fraud with an urgency that can disorient and push victims towards rash action. With a spurious 'Payment Details' section, complete with options to pay through widely accepted credit networks like Visa or MasterCard, the sham dangles the false promise of restored access, should the victim acquiesce to their demands.

Conclusion 

In an era where the demarcation between illusion and reality is nebulous, the impetus for individual vigilance and scepticism is ever-critical. The collective consciousness, the shared responsibility we hold as inhabitants of the digital domain, becomes paramount to withstand the temptation of fear-inducing claims and to dispel the shadows cast by digital deception. It is only through informed caution, critical scrutiny, and a steadfast refusal to capitulate to intimidation that we may successfully unmask these virtual masquerades and safeguard the integrity of our digital existence.

References:

• https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/09/29/kozhikode-boy-dies-by-suicide-after-online-fraud-threatens-him-for-visiting-unauthorised-website.html
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pay-rs-33-8k-fine-for-surfing-porn-warns-fake-ncrb-pop-up-on-screen/articleshow/106610006.cms
• https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/people-who-watch-porn-receiving-a-warning-pop-up-do-not-pay-it-is-a-scam-1903829-2022-01-24

Executive Summary

The Cockroach Janata Party had called for a protest on October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Before the protest could take place, Delhi Police detained thousands of supporters. During the incident, several allegations of misconduct by Delhi Police personnel against women protesters and journalists also emerged. CyberPeace Research found that such allegations against Delhi Police had indeed been reported. However, this image is AI-generated.

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Claim

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Some images are being shared on social media with the claim that Delhi Police personnel held and dragged women protesters in an inappropriate manner. The first image shows a police personnel dragging a woman by her legs. The caption reads, “Things have crossed all limits in Delhi. Atrocities against women.”

https://www.facebook.com/vinay.gautam.65888/posts/pfbid0TUFjsaTedTseheJf7AvdxqSKc4bbNaDeNpcezRccuYS1JcAestnRLX5NvVe9wiYZl

https://ghostarchive.org/archive/1LyAy 

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Fact Check

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Upon closely examining the viral images, we found that the woman depicted in both photographs appears to be the same. However, it seems implausible that the woman’s clothing would change in the middle of a protest.We then examined both images using OpenAI’s verification tool. The tool clearly indicated that both photographs were generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

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Conclusion

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Our research found that such allegations against Delhi Police were indeed reported. However, the viral image is AI-generated.

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Introduction

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The way we interact, go about our daily lives and manage our financial resources has completely changed in this digital age. Tasks that were earlier done manually (and were extremely time-consuming) now happen in just minutes and seconds. As this convenience expands, so do the risks that come with it. The proliferation of digital technology has opened up a wide arena where we, as users, are getting exposed to a complex environment of emerging cyber threats at every step. This has become especially true for our senior citizens, who face heightened vulnerabilities owing to their age and situational factors. Therefore, getting an understanding of these risks and knowing how to respond to them is no longer optional.

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Cybercrime against senior citizens is rising every year. The elderly today are using and depending on smartphones, net banking, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and social media more than ever. Scammers are preying on this circumstance and perpetrating well-planned cyber attacks on the senior population. A 2024 report from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that analysed cybercrime data for the year 2023 found that older adults lost more money per incident as opposed to the younger population. 

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This blog aims at providing practical and easy-to-follow cyber safety tips for senior citizens and a clear action plan on how to respond if they ever fall victim to a scam.

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Safe and Smart Browsing for the Elderly: Essential Cybersecurity Tips

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1. Device safety: Cybersecurity can be ensured with one simple rule, which is securing your device first. This is the first line of defence against cybercrime and can go a long way in preventing online attacks and scams. This device security can be established by using screen locks such as setting up a PIN, lock patterns, fingerprints, or even applying the face lock feature on smartphones and tablets. 

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The next step is to install a reputable antivirus on your device (such as laptops and desktops) and keep updating it from time to time. Enabling additional security features in your devices, such as ‘automatic updates’, further ensures that the phone’s Operating System (OS) and the Applications (apps) remain up to date. This guarantees that the device’s OS and the apps are fully upgraded to catch and fix any new security threats. Users should also beware of any unauthorised software. Suspicious links or messages that offer free software or updates should be avoided at all costs. 

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The Government of India’s 2024 cyber safety booklet also stresses the importance of keeping devices and apps equipped with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of any known vulnerabilities. 

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2. Robust Passwords and 2FA: Weak passwords are one of the easiest entry points for cybercriminals. This is why it is crucial to have strong and robust passwords to keep accounts and devices absolutely secure. It is also important to make sure to avoid using very basic PINs, such as date of birth or predictable ascending digits such as ‘12345’. Also, similar passwords should not be used across various bank, email or social media accounts. While creating a strong password, ideally, one should use a combination of upper case and lower case letters along with mixed digits and special characters. If need be, one can jot down these complex passwords in a separate physical diary to keep a record and refer to it in case of forgetfulness. 

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Enabling two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection. Whenever and wherever possible, users should enable OTP (one-time password) based verification or app-based authentication codes. In case someone does end up stealing the user’s password, they would still need the second factor to log in.

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The Government of India supported the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) initiative, which also provides guidelines that recommend the use of passwords and secure authentication as key cyber safety practices for senior citizens.

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3. Handle messages with caution: Most cybercrime instances against senior citizens are initiated with a phone call, an SMS or a WhatsApp message. Personal details such as OTPs, CVV (3-digit number on the back of a debit/credit card), ATM or UPI PIN, full debit/credit card number, net banking ID and password, etc., should never be shared over a call or a chat. Also, people need to be aware of the fact that genuine officials will never make any demands for such details over calls or messages. ISEA has specifically warned about frauds like phishing, where fraudsters call or message their victims pretending to be from banks, courier companies, telecom operators or from the government to trick seniors into revealing their personal details.

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A caller might say ‘Your KYC can get blocked, give OTP now’ or ‘Your card will get deactivated, click this link’. Hang up immediately! Do not click any links, do not share any number and do not install any app that they suggest (eg. remote access apps).

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4. Banking without worries: Online banking is truly a boon, especially for senior citizens. It eliminates the need to visit the bank in person for every small requirement. But this comfort and ease can serve us well only if we use it with a certain sense of vigilance and responsibility. 

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Users are advised to use only official banking apps that are downloaded from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. It is also prudent to activate SMS or email alerts for all online transactions so that the user receives timely notifications of any withdrawal or transfer. Users should also avoid using public Wi-Fi connections for banking or UPI payments. It is better  to use your own mobile data or a home Wi-Fi with a strong password. This safeguards your financial transactions. India has a system in place called the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) that quickly responds to online financial fraud, especially with regards to UPI and net banking frauds.

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5. Think before you share: Beyond online banking and other essential activities on the web, lies the world of social media which has seamlessly woven itself into our daily routines. Therefore, gaining awareness about the safe usage of social media is extremely important. For starters, users should keep the privacy settings of their social media accounts as ‘Private’. They should also be mindful of accepting friend requests from strangers or unknown profiles, even if they claim that they know the user. Users must also avoid ‘oversharing’ on public platforms and social media accounts. It is always best to refrain from posting about personal details on social media such as finances, travel schedules or addresses. If a user receives urgent messages from a close friend or a relative asking for money, then it is better to first call them up directly to verify that the request is genuine. 

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The older generation should also be wary of fraudsters who, under false identities, build emotional relationships online and then start demanding money, gifts or even private photos from their victims. 

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6. Stay a step ahead: Lastly, senior users can stay a step ahead in this game by familiarising themselves with the typical scams that are targeted towards their age group. This know-how will prepare them to identify scam patterns and early warning signs. Discussing experiences or sharing knowledge with family members or peers can also help seniors bridge the gap between awareness and action.

Fallen for a scam? Don’t panic! Here’s what seniors should do next: An action plan for recovery and protection

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We are all human at the end of the day. Anyone can fall for a scam, even the most careful people. The important thing is how to ‘respond’ after getting scammed. As per the 2023 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Elder Fraud Report, prompt reporting after a scam can improve the chances of either freezing or retrieving the stolen money. If you have fallen for a scam, here is what you should do:

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1. Keep calm and disconnect: Though it may feel challenging, but the first instinct that victims should display is to keep their calm and hang up the phone. The victim should then block the number and refrain from responding to any further emails or messages. Any remote access app, screen sharing app or a support tool that were installed at the request of the caller, should be instantly uninstalled.

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2. Alert your bank right away: Time is of the essence when it comes to online financial frauds. If a user has been scammed and he is aware of it, then he should immediately call the official customer care number of his bank. It is to be noted here that this number should be verified from the bank’s website or from the user’s credit/debit card. Once the user is connected to the bank’s support staff, he should inform them clearly that he has been a victim of an online fraud. The support staff may guide the user regarding the options that he can undertake. These can be: blocking the cards, freezing the account or an attempt from the bank’s interface to try and stop or recall the recent transaction. 

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has laid down certain guidelines on unauthorised electronic banking transactions that encourage quick reporting and provide a steady framework for customer liability. Also, if in case a victim feels that the bank’s response has been unsatisfactory, the complaints can be further escalated to the RBI Ombudsman.

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3. Reset online credentials: Once the victim has spoken to the bank and taken all necessary steps in that regard, the next step is to reset the passwords. Passwords for netbanking, UPI apps, email accounts, social media, shopping platforms, etc., should all be changed. The victim can also turn on two factor authentication for all important accounts. Incase some critical information like PAN (Permanent Account Number) or Aadhar or SSN (Social Security Number ) has been shared, the victim should be on the lookout for any identity theft in the form of unknown loans, new cards or credit enquiries. 

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4. Notify official cybercrime portals or authorities: The next step is to inform the relevant cybercrime authorities in your region. In India there is a government backed National Cyber Crime Helpline which is a part of the Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System. The aim of the helpline is to prevent further losses in digital payment frauds. Victims can also file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting portal. Other than these options, the victim can visit the nearest police station along with copies of their online complaint, bank statements, transaction receipts and ID proofs. 

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In the US, such complaints can be lodged with the IC3 which runs a specialised elder fraud program. The IC3 also publishes the annual Elder Fraud Report and lays down latest guidelines and trends regarding cybercrime.

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5. Preserve proofs of the scam: The IC3’s 2023 report notes that detailed and prompt reporting by the victim enables law enforcement and financial institutions to deploy ‘Financial Fraud Kill Chain’ procedures that help in tracing or freezing stolen funds. This is why it is very important to preserve the evidence of a cyber scam. Proper documentation can help banks and law enforcement agencies to properly investigate a case. If possible, the victim should save all messages, WhatsApp chats, emails, screenshots and voice recordings. Establishing a clear timeline of the events also helps. Minute details such as: when the first call was received, what was said and when the money exited the victim’s account, significantly help in piecing together the full picture. Victims should also keep a record of all bank statements and transaction alert messages related to the fraudulent activity. 

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6. Helping seniors heal: Apart from monetary damage, the emotional impact of a scam should also be acknowledged. Getting scammed can be deeply humiliating for senior citizens, especially at their age where everyday life may already feel quite overwhelming. Also, when it comes to their lifelong savings, the ramifications of becoming a victim of an online financial scam can be quite distressing for seniors. The US Department of Justice’s elder fraud content emphasises on the fact that senior victims need ample emotional support and should not be blamed or shamed for their predicament.

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Families and caregivers can guide the elderly victims step by step through the recovery process which includes taking the necessary technical steps, filling out forms and following up with banks or authorities. For large value frauds, repeated targeting or cases that involve identity theft, getting a legal consult for the victim is highly advisable. This kind of support and reassurance can help seniors reduce their anxiety and regain their inner strength.

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Secure today, safe tomorrow

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The rate of cybercrime against senior citizens isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Scammers are refining their techniques every day. Therefore, the best long standing defence against cybercrime is to make cyber safety a regular habit. This can be achieved with the support of families, caregivers and communities. Beyond the practical steps, spreading awareness and maintaining an open dialogue is equally important. Senior citizens should feel comfortable asking questions, sharing concerns and continue learning from experiences, be it theirs or of others. Reinforcement of safe online practices should become ingrained at the core of every society. When cybersecurity practices merge with everyday life, seniors gain both protection and confidence. Simple and steady digital safety practices that come with guidance and reassurance empower the seniors to enjoy the benefits of technology without fear.

Simply put, the habits that are adopted today will lay the foundation for a secure and safer digital tomorrow.

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References  

• https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2024/11/ftc-older-adults-lost-up-to-61-5b-to-fraud-in-2023/
• https://www.cert-in.org.in/PDF/CSH_Booklet.pdf
• https://infosecawareness.in/concept/cyber-security-tips-for-senior-citizens
• https://cybercrime.gov.in/UploadMedia/instructions_citizenreportingcyberfrauds.pdf
• https://www.ic3.gov/annualreport/reports/2023_ic3elderfraudreport.pdf
• https://www.arklegal.in/post/how-to-report-cyber-crime-in-india
• https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1814120
• https://cybercrime.gov.in/Webform/crmcondi.aspx
• https://www.justice.gov/archives/stopfraud-archive/elder-fraud-and-financial-exploitation
• https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/federal-trade-commission-protecting-older-adults-report_102024.pdf
• https://www.unionbankofindia.bank.in/pdf/cyber-security-customer-awareness-guide-vol-v.pdf
• https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s371e09b16e21f7b6919bbfc43f6a5b2f0/uploads/2024/11/20241111752149945.pdf
• https://www.dsci.in/files/content/documents/2024/CSAM24-Infographic_Cyber-Safety-Essentials-for-Senior-Citizens-v1.pdf

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