'Alarmingly frequent': Airtel CEO writes a letter, warns users about cyber-fraud cases
Vittal stated that cyber fraud is becoming increasingly common and warned people to be cautious. He also noted that phoney UPI accounts and websites and fraudulent OTPs are prominent examples of fraud.
FollowBharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal cautioned consumers about the growing number of cyber-frauds in the nation via email outreach on Wednesday, encouraging subscribers to be watchful against such incidences of cyber fraud, which are becoming "alarmingly prevalent." He highlighted a recent incident in which a scammer posing as an Airtel executive duped a user into providing a customer's bank credentials to transfer a large sum of money. The scammer contacted the consumer while pretending to update the Know Your Customer (KYC) form.
Vittal stated that cyber fraud is becoming increasingly common and warned people to be cautious. He also noted that phoney UPI accounts and websites and fraudulent OTPs are prominent examples of fraud. "There are several bogus UPI applications and eCommerce websites that use NPCI, BHIM terms and logos to seem real in design. If you download one of these, you will be requested to input all of your bank information as well as your MPIN, providing the scammer total access to your bank information," Vittal penned in an letter.
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In his email, he also mentioned how clients might protect themselves from these scams. He urged users not to give out any financial or personal information to anyone over the phone, SMS, or email, such as their customer ID, MPIN, or OTP. He further advised consumers not to follow instructions in SMSes sent from an unknown source, delete such SMSes immediately, and avoid opening suspicious websites and applications or falling prey to unreal offers or bargains on such sites.
He went on to say that you should not disclose your personal and financial information with unfamiliar applications that purport to be UPI apps. He also advised clients not to send sensitive information by email or click on any suspicious links, even if the request appears to be from authorities such as the Income Tax Department, Visa or MasterCard, or others.
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