With 2024 just about to end, the scammers are leaving no opportunity to target victims with different frauds enticing them to click malicious links and Android Package Kit (APK) files. showcases some of the recently emerged cyber-crimes which are being used to dupe unsuspecting victims.

Malicious link and APK files wishing Happy New Year.

Modus-operandi: Using the occasion of New Year 2025, cyber-criminals would try to hack mobiles of the targets by sending malicious links and APK files on their mobile phone. The scammers would then share those harmful links and APK files on a large scale through social networking sites including WhatsApp from the hacked mobile number.

Dos and Don’ts: If anyone receives any harmful links and APK files of Happy New Year wishes from any social networking site including WhatsApp, delete it immediately. Do not share such malicious links and APK files with anyone for any reason. If harmful links and APK files are posted to any WhatsApp groups from your known WhatsApp number, the admins of the said group should check and delete such links and APK files. Call 1930 immediately or file a complaint on this website www.cybercrime.gov.in in case of any cyber crime offence.

Fake wedding invitation file scam.

Modus-operandi: Scammers send fake wedding invitations through WhatsApp, Instagram or other such apps with links to download a fake APK file. Installing it can add malware or steal personal information, data and could also lead to privacy or financial losses.

Dos and Don’ts: Always confirm the invitation directly with the sender. Do not click on suspicious links or download untrusted apps. Look for suspicious domains or spelling errors in links. Keep security software updated on all devices.

USB Charger Scam (Juice Jacking)

Modus-operandi: Cyber-criminals use USB charging ports installed at public places such as airports, cafés, hotels and bus stand etc. for malicious activities. Charging electronic devices at such infected USB charging stations, may make one a victim of juice-jacking cyber attack. Juice jacking may lead to installation of malicious apps, encryption of one’s device and criminals may ask for ransom to restore it. Stealing of data from your device.

Dos and Don’ts: Think twice before plugging to public charging stations or portable wall chargers. Use electrical wall outlet to charge your mobile device. Try to carry your own personal cable or power bank. Lock your mobile device and disable pairing with a connected device. Try to charge your phone when it is in a switched off state.

Exploitation of cyber-crime helpline (1930) by cyber-criminals

Modus-operandi: Fraudsters pretended to be police officers using a Skype ID called ‘POLICE 1930’ to trick victims into thinking they were real law enforcement. They falsely claimed that the victim’s Aadhar ID was used for shipping illegal items like drugs and credit cards. The criminals then threaten the victim with imprisonment and freezing his/her bank accounts unless the victim transfers a large amount of money to them. This sophisticated scam misuse an official cyber-crime helpline to exploit the victim’s trust in government systems.

Dos and Don’ts: If contacted by someone claiming to be law enforcement, terminate the call and verify their identity through official channels. Legitimate authorities will not request immediate payment over the phone. One should not disclose sensitive data or financial details to unknown callers and if anyone receives a threatening call or message, it should be reported to local authorities or cyber-crime units. In case someone receives fake arrest emails, one should not trust or respond to fake arrest notices sent via email, WhatsApp, SMS or Phone calls claiming to be from the police. Be skeptical of emails that seem urgent, threatening, or out of the ordinary. Verify the authenticity of any suspicious emails and check the email address to ensure it’s from a genuine government website ending in “gov.in“.

Kolkata, Dec 30: The process for framing of charges in the cash-for-school-job case at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata on Monday received a setback, as a prime accused in the case had to be hospitalised in the morning after he fell unconscious at the correctional home which he is housed now.

It is learnt that Sujay Krishna Bhadra, the said accused, complained of uneasiness in the morning and after that he became unconscious. Thereafter, he was shifted from Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata to state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital also in South Kolkata.

Earlier this month a single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court granted bail to Bhadra in the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.

However, that bail could not ensure that he was freed from behind bars since after the bail was granted to him in the ED-registered case he was shown as arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel probe in the school job case.

The CBI after showing him as arrested took him to custody for three days for the purpose of interrogation. However, on December 21, the CBI refrained from seeking an extension of his custody as the special court.

The CBI counsel informed the court that since being taken into custody Bhadra had been refusing to consume food and even medicines prescribed for him. As a result of that he developed certain medical complications, the central agency counsel informed the court.

In the last and fifth charge sheet filed by ED in the matter at the special court, it was mentioned that their officials have confiscated an amount worth Rs 7.47 crore from a private corporate entity linked to Bhadra and are in the process of confiscating another Rs 2.70 crore of the same corporate entity.

The ED arrested Sujay Krishna Bhadra alias ‘Kalighater Kaku (Uncle from Kalighat)‘ in May 2023 and then the CBI took his custody in December 2023.

Mumbai, Dec 28: Adopting a tough stance, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called upon Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a survey of victims of police brutality in the wake of the recent death of a Dalit man in judicial custody, here on Saturday.

VBA President Prakash Ambedkar met Fadnavis and submitted a memorandum of demands pertaining to the ‘foul death’ of the Dalit law student, Somnath Vyankat Suryawandi, 35, on December 15, and other issues.

Ambedkar claimed that the CM has agreed to survey and provide a list of the victims of police high-handedness in Parbhani and ensure that they are adequately compensated.

The VBA head has urged the CM to file an FIR against the police officers who allegedly brutalised Suryawanshi and other innocent victims while probing the Parbhani incidents, ordered a ‘lathi-charge’ without clearance from the seniors, plus compensation for those Dalits whose homes have been demolished, and probe by a retired district or high court judge.

The VBA chief further asked the government to hike the compensation amount of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for Suryawanshi’s next of kin, plus ensure a government job to a member of his immediate family.

In view of the upcoming seventh anniversary of the infamous Koregaon-Bhima caste riots of January 1, 2018, the VBA chief urged the CM to direct the police to monitor all misinformation against the Dalits and thwart any kind of violence anywhere on New Year’s Day.

The CM has also agreed to VBA’s demand to carry out a survey and cancel the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for tribal students and revert back to the old system, said Ambedkar.

It may be recalled that Suryawanshi was arrested (December 12) after the defiling of a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar near the Parbhani Railway Station (December 10), followed by massive violence on December 11.

However, barely 72 hours later on December 15, Suryawanshi was found dead in judicial custody, setting loose a political storm that continues to rage.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other top Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders went to meet the Suryawanshi family.

After consoling the family (December 23), Rahul Gandhi launched an unprecedented direct attack on the MahaYuti government contending that Suryawanshi was ‘murdered’ as he was a Dalit and attempting to safeguard the Constitution, plus accused that the CM had ‘lied’ before the legislature.

Opposition leaders who called on the Suryawanshi family include Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar, besides representatives of Shiv Sena (UBT), VBA, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and others.