Bollywood actress Kirti Kulhari is the latest celebrity to be a victim of cyber fraud after unauthorized transactions were made using her credit card.
The actress was aware the unauthorized transactions were taken by an unknown person and her credit card activity was detected, she said. She has been contacted by police and filed a complaint. The payments were made without her knowledge or consent and she was confronted at police headquarters, "we are investigating and trying to find out what happened," said a police investigator.
Although officials have not disclosed exactly how the fraudsters’ tactics were employed, cybercrime experts say such incidents usually occur in phishing emails, fake payment links, card skimming, malware attacks, or stolen credit card information from data breaches. In some cases, fraudsters may also manipulate victims to hand over sensitive banking information (e.g., One-Time Passwords (OTPs), CVV numbers, login credentials).
Investigators are examining the transaction trail, banking records, and digital evidence to find out who is doing it, the report also states. Law enforcement officers may work with the concerned bank, payment gateways, and cybersecurity experts to determine if the card details were compromised through an online breach or another fraudulent method.
That incident is more evidence that cybercriminals are targeting people from all parts of the population: celebrities, business people, and ordinary people. And as digital payments become more common, financial fraud has become increasingly sophisticated and therefore users need to be more proactive in security.
Several precautions that cybersecurity professionals recommend to reduce the risk of being a victim of online fraud include enabling SMS and email transaction alerts for all banking and credit card transactions, regularly reviewing account statements, avoiding sharing sensitive banking information with anyone, and verifying the authenticity of websites before making payments online. It is also important to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication wherever available.
If customers witness any unauthorized transaction, they should immediately contact their bank to block the card, report the fraud, and file a complaint with the local cybercrime police or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Reporting early usually helps reduce the risk of further financial loss and may in fact help officials identify fraudulent activities.
As the investigation into Kirti Kulhari's case continues, authorities will be able to collect more evidence in order to identify the alleged fraudsters and determine the total extent of the fraud. The incident demonstrates the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world.
With online banking and digital transactions becoming an integral part of everyday life, keeping alert, checking financial accounts regularly, and following safe online practices are the best defenses against cybercrime, security experts say.
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