Cyber criminals targeting youths through dummy websites

Aurangabad, July 13:

The coronavirus has left several unemployed. Many businesses have implemented cost cutting measures affecting the overall employment generation. Hence many are on the look out for a job on various employment websites. However, cyber criminals are taking advantage of the situation and duping unemployed youths for lakhs of rupees by creating dummy websites.

Youths who were left unemployed or are looking for a job use online employment websites to get a job. With covid restrictions, employers ask the candidates to upload their resume and other information online. However, taking benefit of the increased trend, cyber criminals have created fake websites that pose exactly the same as the original websites. Youths who cannot recognize the difference in these websites become easy targets for the cyber criminals. Work from home policy has been adopted by the majority of the companies. Meanwhile the cyber criminals have also created fake advertisements of various reputed companies. The criminals lure people in their trap by offering free online KYC and give attractive home employment opportunities with high salary and other benefits. The criminals also ask people to upload their documents online and sign a job agreement. After taking documents, the criminals blackmail people by threatening them to make their documents public and also threaten them with legal consequences if they deny paying money.

Verify online offers

According to cyber police officials, before uploading documents or signing agreement for online job, one must verify the type of work, time, company information and terms and conditions of the contract. Be clear about the job description. Ask the company why they require the KYC documents or avoid submitting any documents online and ask the officials to meet in person rather than online. Never click on unidentified links and update the antivirus regularly.

How are people duped

As per officials, cyber criminals dupe people by giving online data entry jobs, typing, and translations with attractive salary packages. Initially, one receives money for the work. But later on the company starts demanding money stating mistakes in work, rejection of the project and loss to the company. The criminals also threaten to lodge police complaints and demand money.

Two complaints filed

Cyber cell PI Geeta Bagwade said, people must read the terms and conditions of the contract carefully before submitting their documents. At present, cyber cell has received two such complaints. One must immediately report to the police if they face such a situation.