Achive.php June 18, 2025 - The Cyber Shark
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Archives for June 18, 2025

Facebook Sextortion: Retired Man Loses ₹38 Lakh to Online Fraud

Facebook Sextortion: Retired Man Loses ₹38 Lakh to Online Fraud

A police investigation is ongoing after cybercriminals used the fear of a POCSO case to extort money by pretending to be a lady and then the police. A 70-year-old retired government employee in Hyderabad fell victim to a sextortion scam on Facebook, losing ₹38.73 lakh. The Cybercrime Police received a notification about the fraud this week, and they have opened an investigation and are looking into it. Police claim that the victim accepted a friend request on Facebook from someone pretending to be a lady. She requested ₹10,000 for a Wi-Fi connection, claiming to come from a low-income household. Over time, the fraudsters extracted ₹10 lakh under the pretext of medical treatment. Later, the scammers posed as police officers and sub-inspectors, accusing him of chatting inappropriately with a minor girl. They threatened to file a POCSO case unless he paid more money. The man paid several payments totalling ₹38.73 lakh out of fear of legal issues. When he realised it was a fraud, he went to the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police, who are currently looking into it. Advice: This example serves as a clear reminder of how online fraud uses fear-mongering and emotional manipulation. Security Tips for Users: Never trust unknown friend requests on social media Avoid sharing personal or financial details online Do not engage in private chats with strangers If threatened online, report immediately to cybercrime.gov.in Consult family or police before making any online payments

Google Launches AI Safety Charter to Combat Rising Cybercrime Threats in India

Google Launches AI Safety Charter to Combat Rising Cybercrime Threats in India

With 60 million threats blocked and ₹5 million pledged, Google partners with Indian agencies and IIT-Madras to secure the digital future In India’s rapidly growing digital space, hackers are increasingly targeting users with sophisticated scams, including fake banking apps and phishing attacks. This week, Google revealed new efforts under its AI-led “Safety Charter” to detect and stop such scams in real-time through artificial intelligence. The goal: to protect Indian users and institutions from cyber fraud and data theft. Google is leveraging AI to block scams before they impact users. According to Preeti Lobana, Google India’s Country Manager, the company has already: Prevented 60 million attempts to install malicious applications Flagged 500 million scam messages Marked 12 million fake listings on Google Maps Issued 2.5 billion warnings for suspicious URLs   Financial frauds now account for 75% of cybercrimes, with global cybercrime costs estimated to reach $14 trillion by 2028. To tackle this, Google has introduced a three-pronged AI Charter focused on: User safety Enterprise and government cybersecurity Responsible and ethical AI development   In addition to deploying advanced AI tools, Google is collaborating with Indian authorities such as the Department of Telecommunications, the Home Ministry, and SEBI for centralised intelligence sharing. Google.org also announced a $5 million expansion of the APAC Cybersecurity Fund via The Asia Foundation, enabling cyber clinics and training in Indian universities, especially for MSMEs and students. Meanwhile, a new partnership with IIT-Madras aims to push forward Post-Quantum Cryptography, securing future digital interactions through anonymous, privacy-first tokens. According to Lobana, “AI systems are always evolving to detect new threats—even those that haven’t been seen before.”  Additionally, Heather Adkins, Google Security’s VP of Engineering, said: “AI isn’t just narrowing the gap between attackers and defenders—it’s eliminating it in some cases.” Advice: Google’s AI-driven defence strategies signal a major leap in protecting India’s digital users. But while tech giants act, user vigilance remains essential. Security Tips for Users: Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for every application. Never click on unknown links in emails or communications. Download apps only from official stores Report cybercrimes at cybercrime.gov.in Stay updated with Google’s Safety Centre and CERT-In alerts

Google Flags 500M Scam Messages Monthly as Cybercrime Surges in India

Google Flags 500M Scam Messages Monthly as Cybercrime Surges in India

Tech giant launches AI-powered Safety Charter to combat rising cybercrime, warns of deep fake scams and ₹20,000 crore projected losses As cybercrime accelerates across India, Google has announced a major AI-driven initiative under its new “Safety Charter” to fight online fraud. The tech giant revealed this week that it now detects over 500 million scam messages monthly and is working closely with Indian authorities to boost public cybersecurity awareness and enforcement. With India’s digital economy growing rapidly, cybercriminals are using refined methods such as deep fakes, voice cloning, and fake banking apps to trick users. According to Google, scams involving Unified Payments Interface (UPI) alone caused ₹1,087 crore in losses in 2024, and total cybercrime-related damages could hit ₹20,000 crore in 2025. The company is using AI across Google Messages, Search, and Ads to detect and block threats. It claims to have removed 247 million scam ads, suspended 2.9 million accounts, and prevented access to thousands of fake support and government websites, down 80% and 70% respectively. Google’s new scam detection tool in Google Messages has flagged over 500 million suspicious messages per month, triggering 2.5 billion user warnings. The company is also partnering with India’s DigiKavach programme and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to launch public awareness campaigns. “AI is now a critical frontline defence,” Google wrote in its blog post. “Our systems are identifying and stopping threats much earlier — often before they reach the user.” Advice: The magnitude of cybercrime threats and the expanding significance of AI in defence are demonstrated by Google’s most recent action. Users must remain alert as scammers change. Security Tips: Make sure all accounts have two-factor authentication enabled. Never download dubious programs or click on unidentified links. Report scams to cybercrime.gov.in. Verify banking apps from official app stores only. Stay updated with alerts from CERT-In and Google’s Safety Centre.