Haryana, Fatehabad, May 4: In view of rising incidents of cyber fraud, Superintendent of Police Siddhant Jain, IPS, has issued a strong advisory warning the public against answering video calls from unknown numbers. He cautioned that such calls are increasingly being used by cybercriminals to trap and blackmail individuals.
SP Jain explained that a common scam involves fraudsters initiating a video call from an unknown number. Upon answering, the recipient is shown obscene content while the criminals simultaneously capture screen recordings or screenshots that include the victim’s image. These visuals are then used to blackmail the victim, with threats to circulate the footage on social media unless money is paid.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, SP Jain urged citizens to remain vigilant and follow key precautions.
Precautionary Guidelines:
Do not answer video calls from unknown numbers. If accidentally answered, avoid facing the camera until the caller’s identity is confirmed.
Keep social media accounts secured with proper privacy settings, especially on platforms like Facebook.
Do not accept friend requests from unknown or suspicious profiles, particularly those posing as women on Facebook or Instagram.
Switch to the rear camera if unsure about the caller’s identity during a video call.
If any objectionable video is uploaded to YouTube, report it immediately for removal.
Avoid sharing personal details such as identity, mobile number, or address with strangers online.
SP’s Appeal:
SP Siddhant Jain appealed to the public not to panic or remain silent if they become victims of such fraud. Instead, he urged citizens to report the incident immediately to the district cyber cell, the nearest police station, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal www.cybercrime.gov.in, or the Cyber Helpline at 1930.
The police department remains committed to safeguarding citizens against cybercrime and continues to work actively toward creating public awareness and ensuring swift action against offenders.
