Hyderabad: As the New Year approaches, celebrations and greetings are in full swing, but cybercriminals are exploiting the festive spirit with fraudulent schemes. Advanced greetings and personalized New Year message links are making the rounds, luring people to click and fill in details. Cyber experts caution that falling for these scams could compromise sensitive data.
These deceptive links often carry Android Package Kit (APK) files, and once downloaded, they grant criminals access to your mobile device. Personal data, including bank account details, photos, videos, and contact numbers, can be stolen, leaving victims vulnerable. Experts emphasize exercising caution when opening such links, as cybercriminals are expected to intensify their attacks in the coming days.
Additionally, scammers are exploiting the New Year shopping frenzy. Fraudulent links claiming to offer discount coupons, event passes, or exclusive deals from reputed e-commerce platforms and malls are being circulated. Clicking these links could result in phone hacking, drained bank accounts, and malware infiltration.
Cyber specialists warn that such malware can enable hackers to manipulate photos and misuse personal information. Authorities urge the public to avoid opening unknown links, especially those from unverified sources or unfamiliar numbers, to safeguard against these escalating cyber threats.
Stay vigilant and prioritize online security this festive season.
