Report & Block: Experts caution people receiving calls from international numbers starting with +254, +84, +63...
New Delhi, May 10: Do you receive missed calls, messages or calls on WhatsApp from numbers starting with 254, 84, 63 or other international numbers? "Report and block", experts advise.
The alert was issued by the Home Ministry's Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to prevent innocent individuals from becoming victims of cybercrime. Experts in data analysis and forensics informed that such international numbers have "Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia" origins and that unscrupulous forces could steal financial data.
"This is a new cybercrime trend. People across India irrespective of their profession have been receiving calls and missed calls on WhatsApp from 254, 84, 63, 1(218) or other international numbers, and some of them have become victims of cybercrime. It has become more frequent," an expert in cyber intelligence and digital forensics said.
Another expert suggested that people should "report and block numbers like 254, 84, 63 or other international numbers if there is missed call alert or calls on WhatsApp."
"Cyber awareness and hygiene are one of the important aspects in policing and it is a much-appreciated initiative," the official further said.
According to experts, these calls and notifications are made or sent by unscrupulous elements at any time.
"From early morning between 6 am to 7 am or late in the night, such calls are being received by people from all groups whether he or she is a private employee, businessman, retired government officer or even school and college boy or girl. We need to be just aware of such calls."
"Hello, my name is Allena, may I take a few minutes of your time?" a message received from number starting with 243 said.
"Now that the 5G era of the Internet has arrived, there are already many people who make money through the Internet. I believe you know it too. I must be added to make money. If you don't speak, you may miss an opportunity at a turning point in your life. There are not many opportunities. I hope you see and then respond to my message," the message added.
If a person or organisation is the victim of a cyber-attack, the situation can be reported on the cybercrime.gov.in website, according to the experts, who added that "focused work is being done by the central agencies with the help of I4C to curb cyber menace."
- ANI
