Protecting ourselves does not require technical expertise. It requires simple habits. Never install applications received through WhatsApp or unknown links. Download apps only from official app stores. Never share OTPs, PINs, passwords, or CVV numbers. Verify every request for money through a direct phone call. If you become a victim of cyber fraud, report it immediately through the national cyber crime helpline 1930.
Majid Qurashi
A fraudster does not need to stand outside your house to steal from you anymore. Today, all it takes is a smartphone, a fake message, and one careless click. In a matter of seconds, your hard-earned savings, personal information, and digital identity can fall into the hands of cybercriminals. The most worrying part is that this can happen to anyone. Age, education, and profession no longer guarantee safety in the digital world.
Every day, countless people receive messages claiming to be from banks, courier companies, electricity departments, government offices, or even friends and relatives. Many of these messages appear genuine. Some carry official logos. Others use convincing language to create panic or urgency. Behind many of these messages lies a simple objective: to deceive people and steal their money or personal information.
As a Computer Science student, I often study how cyber attacks work. The more I learn, the more I realise that technology itself is not the biggest threat. Lack of awareness is.
Cybercriminals no longer rely only on technical expertise. They exploit trust, curiosity, fear, and urgency. They send fake KYC updates, courier notifications, electricity bill reminders, job offers, investment schemes, banking alerts, and malicious APK files disguised as official applications. One careless click is often enough to compromise a person’s device or bank account.
A few days ago, senior cyber police officer SSP Tahir Ashraf also cautioned people through his social media account about a growing trend where hackers hijack social media and messaging accounts before demanding money from the victim’s contacts. His message was simple but powerful. Never click suspicious links or trust unexpected requests without verifying them independently.
This warning is not just another advisory. It reflects a pattern that is becoming increasingly common across Jammu and Kashmir and across the country.
I have personally witnessed the impact of such fraud. Last year, one of my relatives downloaded an APK file that had been shared in the official WhatsApp group. Even the application’s name looked authentic. Within a short time after installation, Rs. 2,500 was debited from the bank account. Despite every effort, the money was never recovered.
Many people still believe that cyber fraud targets only those who are unfamiliar with technology. That belief is no longer true. Students, professionals, business owners, government employees, and senior citizens have all become victims. Cybercriminals continuously change their methods to stay one step ahead of public awareness.
Across Jammu and Kashmir, people are increasingly reporting scams involving hijacked WhatsApp accounts, fake APK files, QR code payment fraud, phishing links, fake customer care numbers, online shopping scams, digital arrest scams, and fraudulent investment platforms. The methods change frequently, but the objective remains the same, to exploit trust and steal money.
Why do so many people become victims?
The answer is simple. Cybercriminals understand human psychology better than many people realize. They create urgency by claiming that your account will be blocked, your electricity connection will be disconnected, or your bank KYC has expired. Under pressure, people often act first and think later. That single moment of panic becomes the opportunity a fraudster is waiting for.
The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence has made these threats even more dangerous. Today, scammers can generate convincing emails, fake voices, edited videos, and realistic messages that are difficult to distinguish from genuine communication. Technology is advancing rapidly, but our awareness must advance even faster.
Protecting ourselves does not require technical expertise. It requires simple habits. Never install applications received through WhatsApp or unknown links.
Download apps only from official app stores.
Never share OTPs, PINs, passwords, or CVV numbers. Verify every request for money through a direct phone call. Enable two factor authentication on important accounts.
If you become a victim of cyber fraud, report it immediately through the national cyber crime helpline 1930 without delay.
Cyber awareness should also become part of our schools, colleges, and community discussions. Just as we teach road safety and health awareness, we must also teach digital safety. Every informed student can protect an entire family simply by sharing the right information.
As a Computer Science student, I believe I have a responsibility to spread awareness and help people stay safe in the digital world. But one person alone cannot protect an entire society. Every teacher, student, parent, journalist, police officer, and responsible citizen has a role to play.
YouTube videos and Instagram reels alone cannot solve this growing problem. Awareness must become part of our daily conversations at home, in classrooms, workplaces, and communities. Every person who learns about cyber safety becomes another line of defence against cybercrime.
Cybercriminals work every day to discover new ways of deceiving us. We must work every day to become more aware.
One informed person can save an entire family from becoming the next victim.
The writer is a Computer Science & Engineering student at Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Kashmir. He writes on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, technology, and issues affecting society. He can be reached via his website: https://ermajid.vercel.app
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