Cyber terror in J&K: Fraud calls terrify parents, hackers exploit personal data for ransom

In a disturbing trend, several parents have fallen prey to cyber fraudsters impersonating police officials and making alarming claims about their children.
Afifa (name changed) was left reeling on Thursday morning after receiving a WhatsApp call from a +92 number. The caller, posing as a police officer, shocked her with news of her son’s arrest in Maharashtra for alleged involvement in local disturbances.
“I was shocked and panicked,” Afifa recounted to Rising Kashmir. “I dropped the call and tried to reach my son, but he was unreachable as he was in college.”
She continued, “I was traumatized and nearly collapsed. I contacted a relative, and fortunately, I later received a message from my son confirming he was safe in class. It was a huge relief.”
Many victims of these calls suspect their personal information is easily accessible due to links with their Aadhaar card, facilitating hackers in obtaining their data. They attribute the breaches to Aadhaar. Despite these fears, SSP Cyber Crime IftikarTalib clarified, “No Aadhaar data breach has been found in these cases. Hackers exploit information from social media platforms.”
He advised caution, saying, “People should use all security settings to protect against fraud. These fraudsters aim to extort money.”
Another victim, Sarika (name changed), received a call from a Pakistannumber where the caller, posing as a CBI official, accused her son of criminal activity. “The caller threatened me with arrest,” Sarika shared, adding to the alarming trend of fake calls.
Cyber Police urge parents and institutions to remain vigilant, advising against answering calls from unknown foreign numbers on WhatsApp. They stress the importance of reporting such incidents immediately to the nearest police station.
Reports indicate that some callers go as far as using AI tools to simulate distressing scenarios, like claiming a child has been kidnapped from school premises. Authorities caution against panic and emphasize swift police intervention in such cases.
In response to these alarming incidents, concerned parents have approached schools and institutions to verify the authenticity of calls, revealing the extent of the psychological impact on families.