Maharashtra Cyber Police Warn Citizens Against QR Code, AI Voice, Fake Government App And Job Scams

Mumbai: The Maharashtra cyber police have issued warnings about various prevalent cyber crimes, including QR code scams, AI voice scams, and scams related to fake government apps and AI-driven online job scams. Citizens are advised not to scan unknown QR codes and to avoid clicking on dubious links, as scammers can steal personal data.

It is recommended to keep devices and apps updated, never share OTP, PIN or passwords with anyone, and verify the placement of QR codes, looking for any suspicious signs. Personal details should not be shared with unknown sources; trusted apps should be used, and two-factor authentication enabled whenever possible. One should be wary of unexpected requests for personal information.

In another advisory, the cyber police cautioned against scams where scammers employ AI technology to replicate the voice of someone known to the victim, such as their boss, friend, or relative. These scammers may call the victim, urgently demanding money under the guise of a payment, deal, or emergency. The scammers may send fraudulent messages with APK files posing as government apps, links, or PDFs, gaining access to SMS/OTP from the infected phone and enabling unauthorized transactions, including auto-debits from banks, UPI, cards, or wallets.

Users must avoid unknown APKs/links from WhatsApp and verify official apps through government websites, reporting any suspicious activity to the cyber police.

An advisory regarding fake job offers created using AI highlighted that scammers use AI to generate fake job listings with fabricated reviews and company details. These scammers steal personal and banking information. It is advised not to click on unknown links, verify the legitimacy of companies and job details, and never share OTP, bank details, or personal information.