What Legal Steps Should You Take If You Fall Victim To An Online Scam Or Cyber Fraud
Cybercrimes in India are wrongdoings or crimes committed via the use of technology. Although there is no precise definition for cybercrime, it is a white-collar crime that occurs when any illicit or unlawful conduct is carried out with a computer as the main tool of operation. In practically every state in India, there are cyber cell departments that are prepared to handle cyber complaints. Because of the dramatic rise in both online and offline reports of cybercrimes in India, cyber cell departments and cyber police have been able to identify a wide range of cybercrimes.
Types of CybercrimesPhishing Scams: You get an email or text purported to be from your bank requesting login information or similar. Then the fraudster can get access to your account with all this information.
Online Shopping Scams: You find the best deal online, you pay for it, but then the product never arrives and the website disappears.
Fake Investment Schemes Scam: Here, fraudsters attract victims to "ridiculous" investment propositions promising them high returns. Commonly, these fraudsters connect with users via popular media like WhatsApp, Telegram, or the like and pitch investment plans for making money online through either cryptocurrency investments or work-from-home schemes.
UPI fraud: As UPI has grown; a new area of fraud has emerged as well. Users are currently being tricked by scammers to divulge their UPI PIN or click on websites that would start illegal transactions.
Hacking: One of the most prevalent forms of cybercrime in India is hacking. when someone remotely gains access to another person's computer in order to obtain sensitive and private data, like email addresses and bank account information. Everything is going digitised, which makes hacking more likely.
Legal Steps Should You Take if You Fall Victim to an Online Scam or Cyber Fraud
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: It's a place where online scam will be reported, as such this is an official webpage designed by the government to tackle cybercrime report, not difficult to operate; follow steps given below for reporting the above on this portal.
Go to the website.
Click on "File a Complaint" (or equivalent button)
Follow the Steps for giving details on the scam
A formal record of the crime is created by reporting it here. This implies that if something goes wrong, there will be formal documentation proving you acted quickly to address it.
Local Cells for Cybercrime: There are dedicated police units for cybercrimes in several states and major cities. We refer to these as cybercrime cells. They have committed officers with more knowledge of internet scams. They can provide you with more specific information. In order to report internet scams in such a cell, do the following actions if you think something is amiss:
Locate Your Cell: For contact details, look up "cybercrime cell [your city/state]" online.
Direct Reporting: You can go there in person or contact them via phone or email. In any case, the ability to file a complaint on their swindle is granted.
Your Local Police Station: Not to forget your local police station, which can also take your report and perhaps get you connected with a cybercrime expert. In many cases, the police station is a local resource for reporting in person.
How the Law Can Help to Recover Your Money
Laws and guidelines in India have protected cyber fraud victims. In fact, the responsibility does not just lie with those committing the fraud but even the banks.
RBI regulations: RBI has rules on the books to help recover the fraud. If it is reported within 3 days, the bank has a liability to reverse it. Provided you were not negligent about your account detail.
Information Technology (IT) Act Section 66D: This deals with those who commit fraud through impersonation. Through an FIR, the police can further investigate and initiate a case against the cheating culprit.
Banking Ombudsman Scheme: You can file a complaint with the Banking Ombudsman if the bank doesn't reply or offer assistance. This independent dispute resolution service looks into bank-related issues.
How to Prevent Being Scammed Online
However, here are a few preventive measures that might save you from falling into scams:
Do not fall for Unsolicited Offers: If something comes your way that says 'too good to be true, then it probably is. Don't get blinded by unrealistic promises of big returns or easy money.
Verify Information: Before clicking on links or disclosing personal information, confirm the sender's phone number, email address, and website validity.
Watch out for emotional triggers: Scammers use excitement or the prospect of legal action to make victims feel agitated. Remain composed and watchful.
Strong Password: Additionally, create strong, one-of-a-kind passwords for all of your online accounts and, if at all possible, use two-factor authentication.
Keep Up to Date: Continue to learn about the most prevalent kinds of online scams and stay up to date on the most recent strategies used by scammers.
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