IMPACT OF ONLINE SCAMS ON ECONOMY

To authentically regulate this alarming trend, more proactive and engaging strategies must be implemented to educate the public

- DR.S.KRISHNAN, DIVYANSHI AGARWAL & AATMJA JOSHI

The way we live, work, and communicate has changed as a result of our globalised society. We now have the ability to connect, create, and exchange knowledge at a never-before-seen speed thanks to the digital revolution. It has boosted economic expansion, given people more power, and closed gaps between continents. But enormous power also comes with immense responsibility. The digital technologies have all contributed to a substantial spike in cybercrimes in India in recent years. Violent crimes such as financial fraud, data breaches, and cyber-extortion are increasingly being committed online by unscrupulous individuals.

Now, this generation is still exploring every facet of the cyber landscape, all while uncovering the vulnerabilities and loopholes that exist within it, which lead to a lot of cyber scams. One of the most prominent scams these days is digital arrest. While many of us have heard of it, few fully understand how it works or the implications it holds for our digital lives.

People receive a call where the scammer images himself as a law enforcement or government agency and imposes several charges and penalties on the victim and interrogates them in such a way that the victim gets anxious about the investigation. The scammer manipulates the victim and forces them to comply with the instructions; the attackers generally reach the victim via an Interactive Voice Response call from an international number, which further transfers to WhatsApp videos. The scammers merge the financial and legal aspects in such a way that it influences the victim's mind; if the victim cooperates with the scammers, they will be out of trouble.