New Delhi: In a shocking incident that reveals the rising threat of cybercrime in the country, a woman was duped of almost ₹6 lakh on Instagram under the pretext of marrying her. This incident should ring alarm bells for users, highlighting the need for online safety and awareness in an age where digital fraud is on the rise.
The Incident Unfolds
As per the police, the victim, Priya (name changed), a resident of Electronics City and an employee of a private company, was lured by a fake account on Instagram, which led her to file a complaint with the police. Priya found an Instagram profile—splno1indianastrologer—on January 5 that had the image of an ascetic baba and a quote that touted the person as an astrology expert. Priya messaged the account, looking for some guidance related to her future, and she was soon contacted by a person pretending to be an astrologer.
The scammer started asking for her name and date of birth on WhatsApp and then told Priya that she was meant to have a love marriage but that her horoscope had some “problems.” To fix these, she was told to perform certain religious rituals (which required a fee). The initial amount demanded was ₹1,820, which Priya paid instantly.
But slowly, as the scam continued, the demand for money gradually increased. Eventually, Priya figured out that she had been conned when the total amount noticed was soaring to around ₹6 lakh. Priya fell victim to the scammer due to his cunning ways and her trust in what appeared to be a genuine account.
Safety Guidelines for Instagram Users
Social media users need to be extra cautious as cybercrimes are on the rise. Here are some of the most basic and most straightforward actions that can save your Instagram account from fraud:
Review Logins—Make sure that your Instagram account is not being logged on multiple unknown devices.
Launch the Instagram app and navigate to your profile.
Hit the three dots on the right-hand side of the screen.
Go to Account Centre > Password and Security.
Under the Where are you logged in category, look through the list of devices that have accessed your account.
Beware of Random Texts: You should always beware of random texts coming from any profiles you do not know, be it marriage, astrology, or personal life; attack.
Credibility Check: Who is that person who calls himself a specialist in a field of your interest, especially in astrology or other professional areas, and where do the data come from?
Do Not Reveal Any Personal Details: Do not share any personal information online—the date of your birth, financial information, etc. — with any unknown person or account.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add another level of security by enabling two-factor authentication for your Instagram account.
Rising Cyber Crime Concerns
This is not the first such incident, however. As social media has evolved, so have the means by which cyber crooks target the vulnerable. As more and more people use the internet for communication, users should keep their wits about them because the internet is full of threats.
Priya is one such victim, and her painfully hard-learnt lesson is a warning bell for millions of Instagram-hungry users in the country. As cybercrime climbs, people need to be vigilant whilst visiting unfamiliar sources online. Given the heavy reliance on digital platforms in the modern world, prioritising the protection of personal data and finances is imperative.
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