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OLX Fraud: The Hidden Threat in Online Bargains

OLX Fraud: OLX is one of the most popular websites to buy and sell used items. It is now the world’s most popular digital marketplace, with over 300 million users every month. However, fraud and scam incidents have increased along with its popularity. Cybercriminals deceive individuals into paying money by using fictitious postings and identities. The specifics of OLX scams are examined in this article, along with self-defence tips. OLX fraud: what is it? The term “OLX Fraud” describes a range of untrustworthy activities that happen on the OLX platform and related online classified sites, such as Click India and Quikr. The sale of fictitious goods like cars, bikes, furniture, and home electronics is the most prevalent scam. This is how it usually goes: A scammer publishes a phoney advertisement offering a product at an oddly cheap cost. The advertisement makes use of photographs and descriptions that have been taken from real listings. The scammer explains the necessity to mail the items by claiming to be based in a foreign state or be a member of the army when a buyer contacts them. To start shipping, the con artist then asks for an upfront payment. The fraudster vanishes as soon as the money is transferred through internet banking or UPI. Due to the allure of a fantastic deal, many customers fall victim to these well-planned scams despite OLX’s cautions and notifications. Who Is Responsible for OLX Frauds? OLX frauds are usually committed by people or organisations using fictitious identities. They frequently: To gain trust, pretend to be army men. To seem legitimate, use stolen photos and phoney identification. Function beyond national or even global boundaries. To evade detection, these scammers frequently change their bank accounts and phone numbers. They occasionally participate in broader criminal networks that engage in a variety of cybercrimes. On the other hand, victims might be anyone from tech-savvy children to senior citizens, with an increasing number of incidents involving older people who are less knowledgeable about digital safety procedures. When Do Frauds on OLX Happen? Although OLX frauds can occur at any time, they frequently increase during specific times: Holiday seasons, when bargains are sought after. Sales periods are at the end of the month or year. Lockdowns and pandemics, when it is less likely that physical verification will occur. Usually, the deception happens during a brief period of interaction. Scammers frequently create a sense of urgency by demanding cash and action right once. Where Do OLX Frauds Take Place? These frauds are not limited by geography. However, there is evidence that online shopping is more prevalent in urban areas. Major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai are the places where cases are most commonly recorded. Internet classifieds sites like: Websites like Olx.com, Quikr.com, and Click India are commonly used by scammers, and fraud-related behaviour can migrate to social networking sites that advertise similar goods. What Leads to Fraud on OLX? The primary reasons why OLX frauds occur so frequently are as follows: Lack of Awareness: Many consumers are unaware of how these scams operate. Simplicity of Anonymity: Scammers can easily build fake profiles. The Allure of a Bargain: Low prices inspire consumers to take quick action. Lack of Regulations: Online classified ads are not heavily regulated. Delayed Legal Action: It may be challenging to find and capture internet offenders. As cybercrimes get more sophisticated, users need to be better equipped with knowledge and defence tools. How Can OLX Fraud Be Spotted and Avoided? The following are a few warning signs and precautions: Warning Signs: Exceptionally affordable prices. The need to make an upfront payment. The seller states that they are stationed abroad or in the military. Asks for payment by QR codes, internet banking, or UPI. Refusal to allow product inspection or to meet in person. Advice for Prevention: Always demand that the item be inspected before payment is made. Never divulge private banking information. Steer clear of transactions that call for scanning QR codes. Instead of using third-party messengers, use the OLX chat feature. Check for reviews and validate the seller’s profile. Where and How Can I Report Cyber Fraud? Take these actions if you or someone you know has fallen victim to OLX fraud: Keep records on everything: Take screenshots of the product listing, the payment information, and the chat. Report to Cybercrime Authorities: To submit an online report, go to https://cybercrime.gov.in. For prompt assistance, dial the cybercrime helpline at 1930. Go to the police station or cybercrime cell that is closest to you. Use ISAC and T4C Assistance: Account freezing assistance is available from the Telangana Cyber Crimes Coordination Centre (T4C). To obtain immediate assistance, utilise the ISAC Cop Connect App. Real Case Example A Bengaluru man lost more than Rs. 2 lakh in an OLX QR code fraud in September 2024. The scammer pretended to be a buyer and deceived the victim into scanning a QR code to obtain money instead of sending it. Rather, money was taken out of the victim’s account. This example is a clear warning that cunning tactics can fool even tech-savvy people. About OLX: Company Overview Full Name: Online exchange Founded: 2006 Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands Founders: Alec Oxenford and Fabrice Grinda Parent Company: Prosus (a division of Naspers) CEO (India): Amit Kumar OLX India CIN: U74900HR2009PTC053732 Employees: 2,500 globally Revenue: $2.98 billion (2022) Presence: Over 30 countries The Reaction of OLX to Fraud OLX has put in place several security procedures, including: Verification of buyers and sellers. Safe chat capabilities. Reminders and cautions against paying in advance. Instruments for reporting questionable postings. The best defence is still user vigilance despite them. If a deal seems too good

Mumbai News: Man Arrested In ₹67 Lakh Cyber Fraud Targeting Elderly Sisters; Hunt on for Mastermind

Mumbai Police arrested Mohit Bhojraj in a ₹67 lakh cyber fraud case targeting two elderly sisters, with the mastermind Salid Mohammed Shaikh still at large. The victims were lured through a fake investment scheme on WhatsApp, promising high returns. A man from Dahisar has been taken into custody by the Mumbai Police’s South Cyber Cell about a ₹67 lakh cyber scam involving two elderly sisters. Mohit Akash Bhojraj has been recognised as the offender who was apprehended. Officials claim that Mohit maintained continuous communication with Salid Mohammed Shaikh, a well-known cyber fraudster who lives in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and is currently a sought-after suspect in the investigation. According to investigations, Mohit gave Shaikh access to 19 bank accounts, which were purportedly used to embezzle the stolen money. The cyber cell’s investigation to find the fugitive mastermind and follow the cash trail is still ongoing. The complaint claims that after investing in a financing company, the victims, two sisters living in Girgaon with their mother, were joined to a WhatsApp group in January 2025. A lady named Shruti Baheti ran the organisation and frequently shared information about profitable investment possibilities. Shruti posted conversation logs and screenshots purporting to show off earnings from prior investments in an attempt to win members’ trust. With the promise of large returns, Shruti persuaded one of the sisters to participate in a “block share deal” via direct messaging on January 21. The woman made a sizable investment after opening an account with the finance company. Following the first profits, her sister joined the organisation and invested as well. The sisters contributed a total of 67.15 lakh rupees. Their investment portfolio was reported to have increased to ₹1.88 crore shortly after. However, the transaction failed when they tried to withdraw ₹50 lakh. When asked, Shruti stated that before the money could be released, a tax payment was necessary. The sisters realized they had been duped at that point and filed a formal complaint. Mohit Bhojraj has been taken into custody by the cyber cell, which is also actively pursuing the other defendants, including the mastermind Salid Mohammed Shaikh. Investigations are still under progress.

Microsoft wants AI ‘agents’ to work together and retain information

Microsoft envisions AI agents collaborating across companies and improving memory retention using structured retrieval augmentation. At its Build conference, it plans to promote open standards like the Model Context Protocol to foster an interconnected “agentic web.” Microsoft’s top technologist said Sunday, ahead of the company’s annual software development conference, that the company envisions a future when its AI agents may work together with agents from other companies and remember past contacts more clearly. At its Build conference in Seattle on May 19, analysts expect Microsoft to unveil its latest tools for developers building AI systems. Microsoft is dedicated to encouraging the adoption of industry-wide standards that will allow agents from different manufacturers to collaborate, Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott told reporters and analysts at the company’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters before to the conference. Agents are AI systems that are able to do specific activities, like fixing a software defect, on their own. Scott claims that Microsoft is backing the open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) technology, which was first introduced by Google-backed Anthropic. According to Scott, MCP could lead to the development of an “agentic web” in a manner akin to how hypertext protocols facilitated the internet’s growth in the 1990s. “It means that your imagination gets to drive what the agentic web becomes, not just a handful of companies that happen to see some of these problems first,” Scott stated. According to Scott, Microsoft is working to improve AI agents’ recall of tasks that customers have requested of them, but as of right now, “most of what we’re building feels very transactional.” However, because it requires more computing power, enhancing an AI agent’s memory is costly. Microsoft is focusing on a new approach called structured retrieval augmentation, where an agent provides a roadmap of the subjects discussed by summarising each turn in a user discussion. “This is a core part of how you train a biological brain – you don’t brute force everything in your head every time you need to solve a particular problem,” Scott stated.

New e-Zero FIR system will expedite the capture of cybercriminals: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the e-Zero FIR system to auto-convert major cybercrime complaints into FIRs, starting with a ₹10 lakh threshold in Delhi. The initiative, led by the I4C, aims to accelerate cybercriminal tracking and will soon expand nationwide. On May 19, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs had started the new e-Zero FIR project to catch cybercriminals faster than ever before. According to him, the new mechanism, which was introduced as a trial project for Delhi, will automatically convert cyber financial crimes reported on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and hotline number 1930 to FIRs, first surpassing the threshold of Rs 10 lakh. The effort will soon be expanded throughout the entire country, according to the minister. “To apprehend any criminal with previously unheard-of speed, the MHA’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) launched the new e-Zero FIR scheme. “The new system, which was first implemented as a pilot project for Delhi, will automatically convert cyber financial offences reported to the NCRP or 1930 to FIRs, initially exceeding the 10 lakh threshold limit. The new technology, which will speed up investigations and crack down on cybercriminals, will soon be available to the entire nation,” Shah wrote on ‘X’. The home minister said the Modi government is bolstering the cybersecurity grid to build a cyber-secure Bharat. The I4C was established by the New Delhi MHA to provide law enforcement agencies with a framework and setting for coordinating and fighting cybercrime in its entirety. It is intended that the I4C will serve as the focal point for reducing cybercrime in the nation.

“Informing Customers” claims that Dior’s client data was stolen in a cyberattack

Dior confirmed a cyberattack compromised client data, excluding financial details, and is notifying affected customers. This follows a wave of cyberattacks targeting major European retailers, including Marks and Spencer and Harrods. Dior stated that no financial data, including bank card details, was on the database accessed, but it did not specify the number of clients implicated. On May 14, 2025, the French luxury brand Dior declare that client data had been taken by cyber criminals, but they assured that no financial information was compromised. A number of well-known European retailers have been the victim of cyberattacks, with the major LVMH subsidiary being the most recent. Following the announcement by the Le Monde newspaper that Asian clientele had informed them of the alleged January information breach, Dior issued a statement. “The House of Dior has learned that some of our client data was accessed by an unauthorised third party. “We took immediate action to contain this incident,” the statement read. Dior stated that no financial data, including bank card details, was on the database accessed, but it did not specify the number of clients implicated. “Dior teams are still looking into and responding to this situation with the help of top cybersecurity specialists. All pertinent regulatory bodies are being notified,” it continued. “We are in the process of informing customers affected by this incident.” Le Monde claims that client names, email addresses, postal addresses, and phone numbers were among the stolen data. According to HSBC bank, Dior, one of LVMH’s two main brands along with Louis Vuitton, generated 8.7 billion euros ($9.7 billion) in revenue in 2024. Cyber gangs have been increasingly targeting new high-end brands and retailers in recent months. British company Marks and Spencer announced on May 13, 2025, that weeks of interruptions to its online services had resulted from a cyberattack that had exposed some of its customers’ personal information. The high-end department store Harrods and the Co-op food chain have also been affected in recent weeks.

Chandigarh Launches Cyber Wellness Clinic to Combat Rising Cybercrime

Chandigarh’s NITTR has launched the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic to combat rising cybercrime, offering training and awareness programs, and support for citizens and law enforcement. Backed by Zscaler and ISAC, the clinic aims to build a safer digital future through education and prevention. May 12: The National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTR) in Sector 26 opened the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic on April 30, 2025, in a significant effort to shield Chandigarh from the growing threat of cybercrime. A vital resource for citizens, educators, students, and law enforcement in the battle against online threats like phishing, identity theft, and QR code scams, this state-of-the-art facility is supported by Zscaler’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and in partnership with the Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC). NITTR Chandigarh, a pillar of technical education, was founded in 1967 under the Ministry of Education with an initial emphasis on polytechnic training throughout northern India. It is now a renowned university with programs in engineering, technology, and educational management, as well as international partnerships and a reputation as a centre for research. The Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic strengthens NITTR’s dedication to digital safety after a similar project at Punjab University on March 4, 2025, proved successful. The core of this effort is Zscaler, a pioneer in worldwide cloud security that Jay Chaudhry launched in 2007. Millions are protected by Zscaler’s Zero Trust Exchange platform, which has offices in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Mohali, and Pune in addition to seven data centres in India. Its Social Impact Program empowers marginalised areas by advancing digital equity and cyber education. “Building a secure digital future for everyone is the goal of our collaboration with NITTR and ISAC,” Karishma Bhuyan, CSR Lead at Zscaler, stated during the launch. India is the #1 target for AI-powered cyberattacks in Asia Pacific, according to the Zscaler ThreatLabz Phishing Report 2025. Cybercriminals never stop, from hidden links in images to phoney QR code schemes. Chilling local trends were given by Chandigarh Cyber Cell SP Smt. Geetanjali Khandelwal: “Scammers are targeting expectant fathers with fake semen donation schemes, tricking them into scanning malicious QR codes.” Senior persons are identified as the primary focus of Chandigarh Police’s cyber vans and surveys conducted with NCC cadets, underscoring the critical need for awareness. A comprehensive resource for preventing common cybercrimes is the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic. It offers 26 ISAC-certified programs, practical training at ISAC’s Cyberagent Cybersecurity Labs, and awareness sessions on fraud and cyber threats. In order to develop their abilities for cybersecurity careers—an area that is expected to need millions of workers in the years to come, according to Cyber Crime Magazine—participants can use technologies like Breach Point, EthixFirst, and the National Security Database. The clinic also provides officers with specialised training in cybercrime investigation, which improves law enforcement’s capacity to react. The clinic’s technical rigor is guaranteed by ISAC, a non-profit organization that works with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, AICTE, CERT-In, and IIT Gandhinagar. Its platforms offer useful resources, including as ethical frameworks and bug bounty schemes. “This initiative empowers communities to face digital challenges head-on,” ISAC Group Captain P. Anand Naidu stated. The clinic is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and is available to victims of cybercrime and anybody seeking advice on digital safety. Additionally, it provides law enforcement with cutting-edge training in cybercrime investigation. Need assistance right away? For prompt assistance, you can get in touch with Cybercrime Intervention Officers immediately through the free ISAC Cop Connect App. With 3.5 million cybersecurity professionals needed and Cyber Crime Magazine projecting that global cybercrime expenses will reach $10.5 trillion yearly by 2025, this program positions Chandigarh as a leader in creating a safe online environment. This partnership between Zscaler, ISAC, and NITTR is revolutionary. Join Chandigarh in the fight for a safe digital future by visiting the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic and arming yourself with knowledge. Don’t hesitate—remain vigilant and secure!

Google modifies its “G” emblem for the first time in a decade

Google has updated its iconic “G” logo for the first time in nearly a decade, introducing a smooth gradient across its four signature colours. The redesign reflects Google’s shift toward a more modern, AI-focused brand identity. The first significant update of Google’s recognisable “G” logo in almost ten years was unveiled today. The new design substitutes a gradient effect that smoothly switches between the colours for the traditional four-colour blocks of red, yellow, green, and blue. This little change attempts to give the emblem a more modern, fresh look, reflecting Google’s continued emphasis on artificial intelligence. With the release of Google app beta version 16.18, the update has started to show up on Android smartphones and is presently being sent out to IOS users via the Google Search app, according to a 9to5Google report. Even though the change isn’t very noticeable, especially at smaller sizes, it represents a more general visual change in Google’s design approach that is consistent with its most recent AI-driven projects. No Changes to Google Wordmark Yet The primary Google wordmark has not yet been altered by the business. Additionally, it is not officially confirmed if other product logos, such as those of Maps or Chrome, would receive the same revisions. The gradient design might, however, eventually be extended to other services given Google’s concentration on AI across all of its products. With this upgrade, Google hasn’t changed its “G” logo since 2015. The new gradient design represents the company’s changing brand identity as it incorporates more AI functions, especially with the introduction of Google Gemini, its generative AI assistant. A blue-to-purple gradient is already present in Gemini’s logo, further indicating Google’s move toward dynamic, gradient-based design. The new “G” icon is now available on IOS and Pixel smartphones, but the original one is still used on other platforms, such as the web and Android devices that are not Pixels. In the upcoming weeks, it is anticipated that the new design will be more extensively available on various platforms and devices.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Kanpur Loses ₹55 Lakh in Cyber Fraud Due to Misspelled Email Address

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Kanpur lost ₹55 lakh in a cyber fraud after scammers used a fake email address with a missing letter to alter bank details and divert funds. The incident is under police investigation. The most recent victim of cyber fraud was Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Kanpur, which lost Rs 55 lakh to cyber criminals after failing to recognize the missing letter “e” in one of the email addresses. The scammers altered bank account information and redirected the payment to their account while using an email address that was almost the same as that of an authentic American supplier. Vulnerabilities in high-stakes international transactions have been revealed by cyber fraud, which is currently being investigated by police. What happened? The public-sector aerospace and defence firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited regularly purchases fighter aircraft parts from international vendors. The company was negotiating aircraft parts with PS Engineering Inc., a US-based corporation, in 2024. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited asked for a quote for three particular parts on May 3. The officialemail ID, gledbetter@ps-engineering.com. was used for all correspondence. However, unidentified cybercriminals who had probably been keeping an eye on the email exchange made the false email address jlane@ps-enginering.com, which just has the letter “e” missing from engineering. By using fake bank account information, the scammers pretended to be the vendor and persuaded Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to send the money. Before anyone realized what was going on, $63,405 (around Rs 55 lakh) was transferred into the incorrect account. When PS Engineering Inc. notified Hindustan Aeronautics Limited that they had not been paid, the fraud was discovered. When concerned HAL officials looked over their transaction history, they found the phoney email address. An official investigation was initiated after Ashok Kumar Singh, Additional General Manager of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Kanpur, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Cyber Police Station in response to the disclosure. In order to carry out the scam, investigating police believe the cybercriminals may have compromised the email systems of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or intercepted communications. To determine the source of the phoney account and find the culprits, the police have enlisted the help of cybersecurity specialists from IIT Kanpur.

Digital arrest scam, a woman from Mumbai lost Rs 20 crore to scammers

Digital arrest scam : Two men posing as police officers duped an 86-year-old Mumbai woman of Rs 20.25 crore in a money laundering scam. The accused, who is part of an international fraud network, has been arrested. The 86-year-old woman in South Mumbai was virtually accosted by two men in December 2024 who pretended to be police officers. To resolve the matter, they forced her to transfer funds to several bank accounts and threatened her, saying that her Aadhar card had been used fraudulently in a money laundering case. Between December 26, 2024, and March 3, 2025, the suspected Rs 20.25 crore scam took place, according to the police. digital arrest scam the callers said that an Indian bank had opened an account in her name using her Aadhar card and other personal data. They informed her that this account had been used in a massive money laundering scheme and that police action was on the horizon. The accused intimidated her by threatening to report her and her family, including her daughter, to the police. They tricked her into sending money to their accounts by feigning a “digital arrest scam.” Shayan Jamil Sheikh (20) and Rajik Azam Butt, who reside in Malad (West) and Mira Road (East), respectively, have been identified as the accused. Both of the accused have been arrested by the police. A larger conspiracy The report stated that Butt is suspected of being involved in a larger international scheme, citing police sources. On the Telegram messaging service, he formed a group with thirteen foreigners, according to the police. He allegedly exchanged Indian bank account details with this group to assist in committing fraud. The authorities found Butt’s affiliation with a worldwide fraud network after searching Shayan and Rajik’s cell phones after they were arrested. He set up the Telegram channel, investigators discovered, to provide scammers in other nations with information about Indian bank accounts. Both accused, according to officials for digital arrest scam , were personally involved in the planning and execution of the crime and were members of a global fraud gang. Now, they’re looking into how many more bank accounts have been provided to the foreign masterminds.

During the rise of DeepSeek, Elon Musk lost $90 billion; see what Bezos and Zuckerberg lost instead.

Tech billionaires lost $94 billion as a result of the Chinese AI business DeepSeek. Larry Ellison, the billionaire and chief technology officer of Oracle, lost almost $9 billion. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is among the IT giants who have lost billions of dollars as a result of China’s DeepSeek’s breakthrough achievement this year. Fortune reports that the world’s richest person lost $90 billion. According to reports, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg lost $20 billion and $11 billion, respectively. Nvidia was the most severely impacted by the billion-dollar AI startup’s ascent to prominence, which led to a sell-off in the AI chip manufacturer and a $600 billion decline in its market value—one of the worst decrease in US stock prices in the history of the market, according to Bloomberg. Moreover, at the beginning of February, Bloomberg assessed Musk’s net worth to be around $433 billion, but on February 28, it decreased to $349 billion. Within the same period, Zuckerberg’s net worth plummeted from $243 billion to $232 billion. Larry Ellison, the billionaire and chief technology officer of Oracle, lost almost $9 billion. According to Fortune, DeepSeek collectively wiped off $94 billion from tech billionaires’ wallets. Despite the sharp decline in his and his company’s wealth brought on by DeepSeek, Huang lauded the Chinese firm on Nvidia’s most recent earnings call, claiming it had “ignited global enthusiasm.” “It’s a great invention, but more significantly, it has made a top-notch AI reasoning model publicly available,” he stated. For a tenth of the price, DeepSeek had unveiled a sizable language model that could compete with those of competitors like OpenAI. According to CNBC, Nvidia’s biggest clients, Meta, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, appear unfazed and plan to spend over $320 billion on AI and data centre expansion.

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