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The Devil Wears (Counterfeit) Prada
If, like me, you’ve spent a lifetime in banking fraud, the word counterfeit almost automatically implies counterfeiting of plastics (bank cards) and checks. However, since the advent of what is commonly called chip and pin technology and the famous liability shift to merchants, with the right decline rules that sort of plastic counterfeiting should be…
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Shaken, Not Stirred
Learn all about Caller ID spoofing and STIR / SHAKEN protocol Lately I chanced upon a scam story that instantly caught my attention. A PhD scholar (no less) was tricked by a bunch of crooks on Instagram. She had had a break up with her boyfriend 6 months back. The scammers promise her that by…
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Online Gaming, Online Gambling
I wondered whenever I passed by Mumbai’s sprawling Mahalaxmi Race Course, why betting on horses was legal in India, if gambling was supposedly illegal. Turns out, there is a distinction between a ‘game of skill’ and a ‘game of chance’, as per the Public Gambling Act (1867). Therefore, while betting on horses is considered a…
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Cybercrime is Terror’s new BFF
If you ever wondered where all the millions lost to cybercrime and scams go and what damage they could do, read more below: Delhi Police’s special cell was investigating the case of cryptocurrency worth Rs. 4 Crore that was stolen from the wallet of West Delhi businessman. This was back in 2021. They tried to…
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18 Tips to Make your Facebook Private and Secure
Find Facebook settings enormously complicated and layered? You’re not alone. With so many menus, submenus, and privacy options hidden deep within navigation loops, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you struggle to keep track of where to go and what to change in order to truly protect your information, this guide is for you. I’ve…
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The Bot Attack
I was talking to a friend yesterday, who had wanted to buy tickets to watch one of the India matches at the stadium. After reading about the empty stadiums and counterfeit ticket scams, fans in Pune were fortunately prewarned. So, my friend and another one of his friends valiantly logged in an hour ahead into…
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How to fight DeepFake Fraud
Some time ago, a deep fake video of a movie actress called Rashmika Mandana went viral. The video had her face morphed over a British Indian influencer’s video. Within days of this incident, an indecent AI generated deep fake image of Bollywood star Katrina Kaif also went viral. Such incidents are of course unacceptable. I…
