67/2023-2024

PUBLIC ADVISORY ON DIGITAL PAYMENT FRAUD

With the increasing use of Digital Payment Systems, Mizoram has also witnessed a sharp increase in digital payment frauds. Cyber fraudsters are finding new methods to dupe vulnerable and unsuspecting citizens. Online financial frauds account for more than 75% of all cyber-crimes reported in the State. With an aim to prevent financial losses to the general public through online frauds, Mizoram Police once again appeals to public to take following precautions:
1. Never share your Banking password, OTP (one time password) or Debit/Credit Card details with others.
2. Never scan QR Code, when you are to receive money. It is only required for transferring money to other accounts.
3. Beware of phishing scams trying to steal your Banking or UPI information. Look out for fake emails and websites, that try to collect information and do not click on unknown’unfamiliar links.
4. Always use familiar websites for online shopping rather than shopping by searching products on search engines. Search results can be misleading and may lead to malicious websites.
5. Ignore advertisements/deals, if they claim that you can earn money with little or no work or you can make money on an investment with little or no risk. If an offer seems too good to be true, it is most likely to be a scam.
6. Beware of fake loan apps that provide quick and easy loans. Such illegal apps will seek a variety of information and permissions from applicants, which is then misused to blackmail them later. If using digital loan app, please ensure that it has RBI authorization.
7. Beware of fraudsters, who impersonate as army/police personnel advertising cheap items online.

We urge citizens to exercise extreme caution, while conducting financial transactions online. If you are a victim of financial fraud, call Cyber Helpline 1930 or register your complaints on www.cybercrime.gov.in.

STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON REGISTRATION OF COMPLAINT AT www.cybercrime.gov.in:

1. Go to the website “www.cybercrime.gov.in” through any mobile or computer browser (Google, Safari, etc.)
2. There will be two red boxes. Select the box titled ‘File a complaint”.
3. Click on the 7 Accept’ box that comes up.
4. Click on ‘Report Cyber Crime’.
5. On the new page that comes up, first click on ‘Click here for new user’ on the top right and fill up the form.
6. After logging into your account, register your complaint. Select the cybercrime category that pertains to you.
7. If you were duped of money through an online transaction, select ‘Online Financial Fraud’
8. Enter details of the bank account from which money was sent.
9. If payment was done through UPI, select the UPI app (BHIM, GPay, Paytm, etc) which you used to send money.
10. Enter the transaction ID of where you sent the money.
Note: Transaction IDs are of 12 digits. They can be obtained from your bank statement or your UPI transaction details received through SMS.
11. If your account had been credited without your knowledge, enter the relevant details on ‘Credit Transaction details’.
12. After having entered all details as required, select ‘Save as draft and Next’.
13. On the next page, enter details of the fraudster if you are aware. Then click on ‘Save as draft and Next’.
14. On the next page, enter the complainant/victim’s details and then click on ‘Save as draft and Next’.
15. Lastly, click on ‘I Agree’ and then ‘Confirm and Submit’.

After this has been completed, you will receive an SMS with an acknowledgement number through which you will be able to keep track of your case.