Cyber crime
Notes on legal developments, procedure and practical questions, written for general readers.
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Blackmailed After a Video Call in Gurugram? What to Do About Sextortion, Step by Step
A stranger's video call, a recorded clip, and then a demand for money with threats to send it to your family. How sextortion works, why paying rarely ends it, the laws that apply, and the steps to take right away in Gurugram and Haryana.
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"Give Your Bank Account, Earn Commission": How Cyber Fraud Money Moves Through Mule Accounts, and Every Side of the Story
Money lost to cyber fraud rarely stays in one place. It passes through "mule" accounts, often belonging to people paid a commission. How the money trail works, what it means for the victim, the person who lends an account and the innocent account holder, with a recent Haryana case.
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Deepfake Video of a Leader Promising Cashback or a Government Scheme? Why It Is a Scam, and the One UPI Rule That Protects You
Fake ads on Facebook and Instagram are using deepfake videos of leaders to promote "government schemes" and cashback offers. How the scam works, according to a recent I4C advisory, why a UPI PIN is never needed to receive money, and what to do if you have already paid.
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5 Things on WhatsApp and Instagram That Can Land You in an FIR
Most people think a forward, a angry message or a "harmless" fake profile is just online behaviour. The law treats several of these as criminal offences. Five common things on WhatsApp and Instagram that can lead to an FIR under the BNS and the IT Act, and how to stay on the right side of the law.
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Lost Money to Cyber Fraud After Sharing an OTP? When Your Bank May Still Have to Refund You
Most people assume that once you share an OTP, the bank owes you nothing. A recent Kerala High Court judgment directing SBI to refund Rs 3.73 lakh to a cyber fraud victim shows it is not that simple. What the court said, what the RBI rules provide, and what to do if it happens to you.
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Got a "Digital Arrest" Call in Gurugram? Why It Is Always a Scam and What to Do Right Now
A caller claiming to be from the police, CBI or customs says you are under "digital arrest" and must stay on video call and transfer money. There is no such thing in Indian law. How to recognise the scam, what to do during and after the call, and how the law treats it.
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Lost Money to an Online Fraud? What to Do in the First 24 Hours
The chances of recovering money lost to online fraud are highest in the first few hours. A clear, step-by-step guide to what to do, in what order.
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Bank Account Frozen by Cyber Police? What It Means and How to Get It Released
Many people find their bank account frozen without warning because money from an online fraud passed through it. Here is why it happens and the legal routes to get the account released.