Recently, a case of fraud worth ₹25 lakh with a 78-year-old elderly woman in Mumbai came to light. Cyber criminals executed this scam by hacking the woman’s phone. The scammers contacted the woman through WhatsApp and claimed to be an official from the electricity department. After gaining trust through conversation, they asked her to download an APK file and make a payment to update the name in the connection. As soon as the woman made the payment, her phone got hacked and ₹25 lakh were deducted from her account. In such a situation, it is extremely important to find out how scammers con people. Therefore, in today’s ‘Cyber Literacy’, we will discuss ‘Phone Hacking Scam’ in detail. We will also learn: Expert: Rahul Mishra, Cyber Security Advisor, Uttar Pradesh Police Question- What is phone hacking scam? Answer- This is a type of cyber fraud. Question- What are the methods scammers can use to hack phones? Answer- Scammers trap users through different methods and gain access to their phones. See this in the graphic below- Phishing Link/Fake Message Fraud Fraud Through APK Files Fraud through OTP or verification code SIM Swap Fraud Call Forwarding Fraud Social Engineering Question- What damages can occur from phone hacking? Answer- After hacking a phone, scammers can misuse private data along with stealing money. They can also make others victims of fraud through the user’s accounts. See all potential risks in the graphic- Question- How to know if the phone has been hacked? Answer- Phone hacking can be detected through some simple signs. See it in the graphic below- Question- What should be done immediately upon detecting phone hacking? Answer- In such a situation, don’t panic, take immediate action- Question- What precautions should be taken to avoid phone hacking scams? Answer- To avoid any scam, staying alert is most important. You can keep your phone and accounts safe by adopting small precautions. See in the graphic below- Question- What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)? Why is it necessary to enable it on the phone? Answer- It provides additional security to the phone. Such as- Question- Where and how to file a complaint about phone hacking? Answer- First of all, inform your bank and mobile service provider.
