Mobile payment apps have become very popular and scammers may try to use them to steal people’s money. It is learnt that no payment app is 100% secure. Known as the ‘Jumped Deposit’ scam, the scam begins with the fraudster sending a small amount to the victim’s bank account through UPI. This unexpected deposit would trigger a notification via an SMS, prompting the person to check the balance in the account. The scammer then immediately initiates a withdrawal request. When the victims, out of curiosity, open the banking app and enter a personal identification number (PIN) to verify the deposit, the fraudulent withdrawal gets approved. Then these fraudsters steal money from the account. The Tamil Nadu Police have reportedly advised people receiving such suspicious deposits to wait for about 15-30 minutes before checking the bank balance. This would result in the expiry of the withdrawal request, if any. Entering an incorrect PIN deliberately in the first instance would also cancel any active withdrawal request. One should not scan QR codes or click links received from unknown sources. The ‘Cyber Surakshit Goem’ campaign spearheaded by the Cyber Cell has reportedly played a significant role in reducing cybercrime.
