<p>Acting on Interpol warnings, the CBI on Monday issued nationwide alerts on cyber criminals attempting use the COVID-19 to hoodwink vendors of Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) kits and unscrupulous elements trying to sell methanol mixed hand sanitisers that are highly toxic.<br /><br />The agency sent the alerts to police agencies of all state and Union territories on the inputs it received from the Interpol on online advance payment scams and use of methanol for counterfeiting hand sanitisers.<br /><br />On the proliferation of online advance payment scams, the CBI said it involves instances of criminals approaching as vendors of PPE and other protective equipment suppliers related to COVID-19 pandemic and entering business transactions with clients online.<br /><br />After receipt of payment via bank transfers, the agency said, the fraudulent vendors do not make any delivery of items.<br /><br />It also said Interpol has reported about instances in other countries of use of methanol for preparing spurious hand sanitisers.</p>.<p><br />"Instances have been reported in other countries where due to huge demand for hand sanitisers during COVID-19 pandemic, use of methanol was detected to produce counterfeit hand sanitisers. Methanol can be highly toxic and dangerous for the human body," the alert said.<br /><br />In May, the CBI acted on another Interpol alert on banking trojan 'Cerberus' that tricks smartphone users into downloading malicious links related to COVID-19 following an input from the Interpol.<br /><br />According to the agency, the trojan takes advantage of the pandemic and sends a text message to lure a user into downloading the link with malicious software. Once downloaded, the trojan application launches into phishing attacks, to steal data like credit card numbers and other details.<br /><br />The audacity and speed of cyber criminals in attempting to cash in on the pandemic was also seen soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced setting up of PM-CARES to collect funds for COVID-19 and a UPI for payment. Soon after, several fake UPI that are similar to the official ones have flooded cyberspace, prompting banks and other official channels to issue warnings.<br /><br />Several fraudulent websites and e-commerce platforms have mushroomed on the internet promising to sell medicines that could either prevent or cure COVID-19 while some others are being fooled to transfer money in the name of treating patients.<br /><br />Investigators have come across trends like scamsters sending email links to susceptible people who unwittingly share their password and other details to them. One of the main methods used by the scamsters is creating fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, social media accounts and emails claiming that they are delivering medical products at home and asking them to pay via bank transfer.<br /><br />Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an advisory for those working from home (WFH), asking them to take precautions to ensure that they do not fall victim to cyber criminals.</p>
<p>Acting on Interpol warnings, the CBI on Monday issued nationwide alerts on cyber criminals attempting use the COVID-19 to hoodwink vendors of Personal Protect Equipment (PPE) kits and unscrupulous elements trying to sell methanol mixed hand sanitisers that are highly toxic.<br /><br />The agency sent the alerts to police agencies of all state and Union territories on the inputs it received from the Interpol on online advance payment scams and use of methanol for counterfeiting hand sanitisers.<br /><br />On the proliferation of online advance payment scams, the CBI said it involves instances of criminals approaching as vendors of PPE and other protective equipment suppliers related to COVID-19 pandemic and entering business transactions with clients online.<br /><br />After receipt of payment via bank transfers, the agency said, the fraudulent vendors do not make any delivery of items.<br /><br />It also said Interpol has reported about instances in other countries of use of methanol for preparing spurious hand sanitisers.</p>.<p><br />"Instances have been reported in other countries where due to huge demand for hand sanitisers during COVID-19 pandemic, use of methanol was detected to produce counterfeit hand sanitisers. Methanol can be highly toxic and dangerous for the human body," the alert said.<br /><br />In May, the CBI acted on another Interpol alert on banking trojan 'Cerberus' that tricks smartphone users into downloading malicious links related to COVID-19 following an input from the Interpol.<br /><br />According to the agency, the trojan takes advantage of the pandemic and sends a text message to lure a user into downloading the link with malicious software. Once downloaded, the trojan application launches into phishing attacks, to steal data like credit card numbers and other details.<br /><br />The audacity and speed of cyber criminals in attempting to cash in on the pandemic was also seen soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced setting up of PM-CARES to collect funds for COVID-19 and a UPI for payment. Soon after, several fake UPI that are similar to the official ones have flooded cyberspace, prompting banks and other official channels to issue warnings.<br /><br />Several fraudulent websites and e-commerce platforms have mushroomed on the internet promising to sell medicines that could either prevent or cure COVID-19 while some others are being fooled to transfer money in the name of treating patients.<br /><br />Investigators have come across trends like scamsters sending email links to susceptible people who unwittingly share their password and other details to them. One of the main methods used by the scamsters is creating fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, social media accounts and emails claiming that they are delivering medical products at home and asking them to pay via bank transfer.<br /><br />Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an advisory for those working from home (WFH), asking them to take precautions to ensure that they do not fall victim to cyber criminals.</p>
