Call forwarding new way of cyber crime

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 26

Online fraudsters are now using the call forwarding facility, which enables call transfer and forwarding, if the phone is busy, switched off or out of the network coverage area, to dupe people.

They are calling victims, impersonating as customer care executive or representative of any bank or service provider, ask about vital details and convince them to call on numbers like **21*07829700191# following which the calls are forwarded to fraudsters' mobile phone numbers.

Once the call is forwarded, fraudsters use the victim’s account and click on forgot password and request for OTP to log into the account and since call is diverted, fraudster gets access to OTP and, thus, planned fraud is conducted, said Sandeep Dhawal, SP, cyber crime.

This modus operandi could also be used to reset the social media account password or register on banking sites, he said, and advised the public not to dial any number beginning with **21*, *401*.