#CyberSafety Archives - Akancha Srivastava Foundation

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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post Why Smart People Still Fall For Scams! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Parents overshare, children pay the price!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:43:14 +0000

Many parents post about their children with love, pride, and innocence.

A school photo, birthday post, dance video, location check-in, uniform picture, hospital update, travel plan, daily routine, or emotional family moment may feel harmless in the moment. Online, it is not always harmless. It can become a data point.

This is where risk begins.

Children today are growing up with a digital identity being built for them before they are old enough to understand privacy, consent, reputation, or online danger. Every public post can reveal details that strangers do not need to know. A child’s name, face, age, school, routine, hobbies, location, family pattern, emotional vulnerability, or daily environment can all be pieced together over time.

Oversharing gives outsiders access to information they have not earned. That information can be misused for stalking, impersonation, grooming, bullying, fake familiarity, social engineering, identity misuse, and long-term digital profiling. What looks like a sweet family post to a parent can look like useful intelligence to the wrong person.

This is not about asking parents to stop loving their children publicly. It is about asking them to understand that digital exposure has consequences.

A child in school uniform reveals institution details.
A birthday post reveals age.
A vacation update reveals location and absence from home.
A daily routine post reveals pattern.
A video from inside the house reveals surroundings.
A proud achievement post may reveal full name, school badge, or personal identifiers.
Taken together, these details create a map of the child’s life.

The danger is not only immediate. It is also long-term.

Children may grow up and feel violated by the digital footprint created for them without consent. Posts made in childhood can affect dignity, emotional safety, peer relationships, and future reputation. Once personal content is online, control is never absolute. Even deleted content may have already been saved, shared, screenshotted, copied, or archived by others.

Parents must understand one clear truth. Protection today includes digital protection.

Before posting anything about a child, ask:
Does this reveal identity, school, location, routine, or vulnerability?
Would I be comfortable if a stranger saved this?
Would my child be comfortable with this later?
Is this post for memory, or for public attention?
Does this protect the child, or expose the child?

Responsible parenting now includes responsible posting.

Keep accounts private where possible.
Avoid showing school names, uniforms, ID cards, addresses, travel plans, and routine patterns.
Do not post children in distress, illness, punishment, or emotionally vulnerable moments.
Do not share content that can embarrass them later.
Teach children that privacy matters, and model that behaviour yourself.

A child’s safety is more important than a post.
A child’s dignity is more important than online engagement.
A child’s digital future should not be built carelessly by adults in the present.

Oversharing is not always done with bad intent.
The damage still happens when caution is missing.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Parents overshare, children pay the price! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

That WhatsApp Message Is A Lie!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:00:17 +0000

Wait before you respond to that WhatsaApp message!

WhatsApp impersonation frauds using display picture and name cloning are among the fastest-growing cybercrime tactics in India. These scams succeed because they exploit familiarity, trust, and emotional urgency rather than technical hacking. (Social engineering)

Criminals are not breaking into WhatsApp accounts. They are copying identities. The scam works because the message looks like it is coming from someone the victim already knows.

This video explains exactly how WhatsApp cloning frauds operate, why victims transfer money within minutes, and how criminals exploit social and family trust.

HOW WHATSAPP IMPERSONATION FRAUD WORKS

Fraudsters first collect publicly available information. This includes profile photos, names, family relationships, and communication patterns from WhatsApp display pictures, social media profiles, and group chats.

Using this information, the criminal creates a new WhatsApp account with a different phone number. They copy the victim’s contact’s name and profile picture exactly. To the receiver, the chat appears authentic at first glance.

The criminal then sends an urgent message such as
“I have changed my number.”
“I am in a meeting, need help urgently.”
“My UPI is not working, can you transfer money?”

The message is designed to prevent verification. Victims are told not to call and to act quickly.

WHY PEOPLE FALL FOR THIS SCAM

The scam relies on trust, not technology.
The profile picture matches.
The name matches.
The tone sounds familiar.

Victims assume authenticity because the message appears in a private chat, not a public platform. This false sense of security leads to immediate payment without cross-checking.

Money is usually requested through UPI or bank transfer. Once sent, it is moved instantly through mule accounts.

COMMON TARGETS

Family members
Senior citizens
Office colleagues
Business owners
Domestic help employers

This scam spreads rapidly through family WhatsApp groups and workplace networks.

WHY THIS IS NOT A WHATSAPP HACK

No account takeover occurs.
No OTP is stolen.
No device is compromised.

This is identity impersonation using social engineering. That is why two-step verification alone does not stop it if behaviour is not corrected.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE SUCH A MESSAGE

Do not transfer money based on a text message.
Always verify by calling the person on their old number.
Ask a personal question only the real person can answer.

If money is sent, report immediately on
https://cybercrime.gov.in

Delay reduces recovery chances.

WHY REPORTING IS CRITICAL

Every unreported case allows criminals to reuse the same profile image, name, and script to target dozens of people. Reporting helps freeze accounts and trace transaction chains.

Silence enables scale.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others from WhatsApp impersonation frauds.
🔹 Follow for expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world.

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

https://cybercrime.gov.in

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post That WhatsApp Message Is A Lie! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Your Bank Account Is Not Frozen!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:12:53 +0000

Wait, before you click that bank free notice link!

Fake bank account freeze alert scams are engineered to trigger panic and immediate financial loss. These scams are spreading rapidly across India and are designed to make victims act before thinking.

Victims receive SMS messages, WhatsApp alerts, emails, or automated calls claiming their bank account has been frozen or will be blocked within minutes due to KYC failure, suspicious activity, or regulatory compliance issues. The message is deliberately short, urgent, and threatening.

The alert instructs the victim to click a link, call a number, or complete verification immediately to avoid account suspension. This is where the fraud begins.

When the victim responds, the scammer impersonates a bank official or automated verification system. The victim is guided to share OTPs, card details, or approve UPI collect requests under the excuse of restoring account access. In some cases, victims are redirected to fake banking pages that look identical to real bank portals.

Money is transferred out instantly. Accounts are sometimes drained in multiple transactions within minutes. Victims often realise the fraud only when the scammer disconnects and the number becomes unreachable.

This scam works because it attacks a core fear. Loss of access to money. Criminals rely on urgency, authority, and confusion. Victims are told that delay will lead to permanent blocking, penalties, or legal action.

Common triggers used in these scams include
KYC not updated warnings
Suspicious transaction alerts
Regulatory compliance notices
Account freeze under RBI guidelines claims

None of these alerts are sent via random links or WhatsApp messages. Banks do not ask for OTPs, PINs, or payments to unblock accounts. RBI does not issue individual account freeze messages.

What people must do to protect themselves is clear and immediate.

Never click links or call numbers received in account freeze or KYC messages.
Never share OTPs, PINs, card details, or approve UPI requests to “restore” access.
Always check account status only through the bank’s official app or by visiting the branch directly.
Type the bank’s website manually instead of using links from messages.
If an alert creates urgency or threatens immediate action, assume it is fraud and disengage.
Save your bank’s official helpline number in advance and use only that number.
Inform family members, especially senior citizens, that no bank unblocks accounts over calls or messages.

If you receive such an alert, do not click, do not call back, and do not share any details. Check your account only through your bank’s official app or branch. If money has already been transferred, report immediately on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others too.
🔹 Follow for more expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world!

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

https://cybercrime.gov.in

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Your Bank Account Is Not Frozen! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Fake Police FIR Messages Are Ruining Lives

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:29:25 +0000

Fake Police FIR Messages are rampant in India.

Fake police FIR messages and court notice scams have emerged as a high-impact cybercrime tactic across India. These scams are engineered to trigger fear, urgency, and blind compliance by impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities.

Victims receive WhatsApp messages, SMS, emails, or calls claiming that an FIR has been registered against them for serious offences such as cybercrime, money laundering, illegal content, or financial fraud. The message often carries forged FIR copies, police letterheads, case numbers, or court seals to appear legitimate.

This video explains how these scams operate, why people panic instantly, and how criminals extract money or personal data within minutes.

HOW THIS SCAM OPERATES IN REAL SCENARIOS

Fraudsters first acquire basic personal information such as name, phone number, or Aadhaar-linked details through data leaks, phishing, or open databases. This information is used to personalise the threat.

The victim then receives a message stating that an FIR has been filed and immediate action is required. The message warns of arrest, account freezing, passport cancellation, or legal consequences if the victim does not respond.

In many cases, the message includes a forged FIR document, police station name, or court notice. Victims are instructed to call a number or join a WhatsApp or video call for “verification.”

Once contact is established, the criminal impersonates a police officer or legal authority. Victims are told the matter can be “resolved” quietly by paying a fine, verification fee, or settlement amount. Payments are demanded via UPI, wallets, or bank transfer.

WHY VICTIMS PANIC AND COMPLY

The scam relies on fear of law enforcement and social stigma. The threat of arrest or a criminal record overrides rational thinking. Victims are pushed to act immediately and warned not to inform family members or lawyers.

This psychological pressure is deliberate. The longer a victim pauses, the weaker the scam becomes. Speed is the criminal’s advantage.

COMMON VARIATIONS OF THIS SCAM

WhatsApp messages claiming FIR registration
Fake cybercrime or police summons
Court notice PDFs sent via email
Video calls using police uniforms and fake backgrounds
Threats of immediate arrest or account freezing

WHY THESE MESSAGES ARE ALWAYS FAKE

Police do not serve FIRs or summons through WhatsApp.
Courts do not demand payments over calls or UPI.
No legal authority resolves criminal cases through private settlements.

Any message demanding money to “close” a case is a fraud.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE SUCH A MESSAGE

Do not panic. Do not reply.
Do not click links or download documents.
Do not make any payment.

Take screenshots of the message, number, documents, and call logs.
Report immediately on the National Cyber Crime Portal.

If needed, verify directly with your local police station using official contact details, not the number sent to you.

WHY REPORTING MATTERS

These scams survive because victims remain silent due to fear or embarrassment. Reporting helps trace numbers, freeze accounts, and prevent others from being targeted.

A fake FIR message today can turn into financial loss or identity misuse tomorrow if ignored.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others from falling into police impersonation scams.
🔹 Follow for expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world.

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Fake Police FIR Messages Are Ruining Lives appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:22:06 +0000

Cyber safety is rarely lost in one dramatic moment.

It is weakened through small careless habits repeated every day.

Clicking links without checking.
Using the same password across accounts.
Ignoring software updates.
Sharing too much on social media.
Connecting to unsafe public Wi-Fi.
Allowing apps unnecessary permissions.
Posting travel plans, locations, family details, or personal routines openly.
Trusting every call, message, or email that sounds urgent.

This is how digital risk builds.
Not through one mistake alone.
Through routine behaviour that lowers your guard.

Most people think cybercrime only happens through advanced hacking.
That is false.
In many cases, attackers succeed because people make small decisions without thinking.
One weak password.
One ignored alert.
One careless download.
One OTP shared in panic.
One profile left too public.
One device left unlocked.
One suspicious link opened out of habit.

That is enough.

Daily online habits shape your exposure to fraud, identity theft, account takeover, stalking, data leaks, blackmail, financial loss, and long-term privacy damage.

The danger is that these habits feel normal.
That is exactly why they become dangerous.

A person who reuses passwords makes every account easier to breach.
A person who skips updates leaves known vulnerabilities open.
A person who overshares online gives strangers personal intelligence.
A person who clicks fast gives scammers the speed they need.
A person who treats privacy casually creates opportunities for misuse.

Cyber safety is built in small moments.

Pause before clicking.
Verify before trusting.
Update before delaying.
Think before posting.
Lock devices.
Review app permissions.
Use strong unique passwords.
Turn on two-factor authentication.
Do not share OTPs, PINs, or sensitive personal information.
Treat convenience carefully because convenience often lowers caution.

Children need these habits.
Parents need these habits.
Professionals need these habits.
Founders, employees, students, and senior citizens all need these habits.

Strong cyber safety does not begin with fear.
It begins with discipline.

Your daily digital routine decides whether you are easy to target or difficult to exploit.
That is why small habits matter so much.
They either protect you quietly every day or expose you quietly every day.

Cyber safety is not built once.
It is built daily.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Family WhatsApp Group Is Not A Fact Source!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:06:36 +0000

In many homes, misinformation does not begin on a public platform. It begins inside a trusted family WhatsApp group.

That is what makes it so dangerous. People lower their guard in family spaces. A message sent by a parent, uncle, aunt, sibling, cousin, or family friend is often trusted faster than a message seen anywhere else. The content may be false, outdated, edited, exaggerated, or completely fabricated, yet it gets accepted because it comes wrapped in familiarity.

This is how misinformation gains speed.

A dramatic voice note arrives. A screenshot claims urgent action is needed. A video is presented as recent when it is old. A forwarded message carries official-sounding language. Someone shares it with concern, not malice. Others assume it has already been checked. Within minutes, the same content moves across multiple family groups, resident groups, parent circles, and community networks.

That is how false information becomes believable. Not because it is credible, but because it is repeated by people we know.

Family groups are especially vulnerable because they run on emotion, trust, and speed. People forward messages to protect loved ones, warn relatives, or feel useful. In that moment, emotion overrides verification. Fear, urgency, and familiarity work together. That combination is exactly what misinformation needs.

The result is serious.

Families panic over false claims.
Old videos get treated as breaking news.
Fake advisories are mistaken for official communication.
Health rumours, crisis rumours, scam warnings, communal messages, and security-related falsehoods spread unchecked.
Children and elders in the family absorb anxiety from content that was never verified.
One careless forward can distort understanding across an entire network.

This is also why family groups become fertile ground for social engineering. Once people get used to trusting forwarded content from familiar contacts, they become easier to manipulate. A fake warning, a scam alert, a phishing link, or a financial fraud message can enter the group in the same emotional tone as any other family message. The setting feels safe, so suspicion drops.

That false sense of safety is the problem.

People need to understand that trust in the sender is not proof of truth. A loving relative can still forward a false message. A well-meaning family member can still spread panic. Good intention does not make content accurate.

This is where digital discipline must begin at home.

Family groups should not become dumping grounds for every alarming video, every dramatic claim, every unverified screenshot, and every voice note that sounds urgent. Adults must pause before forwarding. They must check source, date, context, and authenticity. They must ask whether the message comes from an official authority, a verified institution, or a credible news source. If that cannot be confirmed, it should not be circulated.

Families should also create a stronger culture of verification. It must become normal to ask, Where is this from. Is this current. Has this been verified. Instead of feeling offended by such questions, families should see them as responsible behaviour. That is how safer digital culture is built.

Children learn from this. Elders are influenced by this. Entire households take cues from how adults behave in shared digital spaces. If family groups become places of panic, that behaviour spreads. If family groups become places of caution, fact-checking, and restraint, that discipline spreads too.

Cyber safety does not fail only through hackers and scams. It also fails through everyday carelessness inside trusted circles. That is why family WhatsApp groups matter so much. They are often the first place where misinformation is believed, normalised, and redistributed at scale.

The safest family group is not the one that shares the fastest. It is the one that verifies before it forwards.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Family WhatsApp Group Is Not A Fact Source! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Instagram DMs Are Not Encrypted! #ASF

Akancha Srivastava — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:40:40 +0000

Did you know that Instagram has ended its encryption of the DMS?

News link for reference: Meta Help Center confirms that end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram is no longer supported from May 8, 2026. Khaleej Times also reported that Instagram has removed end-to-end encryption for direct messaging. – https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/tech/meta-instagram-end-to-end-encryption-removed

Most of us treat private messages as safe spaces. We send photos, documents, addresses, school details, personal updates, emotional conversations, financial information, travel plans, screenshots, and sometimes even voice notes without thinking twice.

But Instagram has discontinued end-to-end encrypted messaging for Direct Messages from May 8, 2026. This means users must become far more careful about what they share inside Instagram DMs. A private chat is not automatically a protected space. Meta’s Help Center confirms that end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram is no longer supported from this date.

This matters because misuse does not always begin with hacking. Sometimes it begins with oversharing. A private photo can be saved. A personal document can be forwarded. A sensitive conversation can be screenshotted. A child can be manipulated into moving from comments to DMs. An account can be compromised, and years of personal messages can suddenly become a risk.

For children and teenagers, this risk is even higher. Many of them do not understand the difference between a public comment, a private message, a disappearing message, and a truly secure conversation. They may trust a gaming friend, a fan page, a classmate, an unknown follower, or someone pretending to be their age. One careless message can expose their identity, location, school, daily routine, family details, or private pictures.

Adults are also vulnerable. Many people send copies of IDs, bank details, business information, confidential screenshots, personal disputes, medical documents, and emotional conversations on social media DMs because it feels quick and convenient. Convenience cannot be the standard for digital safety. Sensitive information must never be shared casually just because a chat window feels familiar.

Please do not share Aadhaar, PAN, passport details, bank information, passwords, OTPs, school IDs, home addresses, travel plans, private photos, or deeply personal conversations through Instagram DMs.

Parents must explain this clearly to children. Private messaging is not a place for secrets with strangers. It is not a place to send personal pictures. It is not a place to continue conversations with unknown profiles, gaming friends, fake fan pages, or accounts that create emotional pressure.

Go through your old chats. Delete sensitive information where possible. Turn on two-factor authentication. Use strong passwords. Check login alerts. Teach children to take screenshots and report immediately if someone makes them uncomfortable.

Every digital space demands caution. Before you send anything online, ask yourself one simple question: can this harm me or my child if it is saved, forwarded, or exposed?

Stay Aware, Stay Safe!
Jai Hind!

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Instagram DMs Are Not Encrypted! #ASF appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Disappearing Chats Are Not Truly Safe!

Akancha Srivastava — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:10:51 +0000

Deleting a message does not mean it disappears from reality.

Disappearing chats do not guarantee privacy, control, or safety.

This is one of the biggest myths people believe online.

A message can still be seen before deletion.
It can be screenshotted.
It can be recorded from another device.
It can be forwarded.
It can be saved manually.
It can be captured in notifications.
It can be backed up.
It can remain on another person’s phone even after you think it is gone.

That means deletion removes visibility, not risk.

Many people become careless inside disappearing chats.
They speak more loosely.
They share private photos.
They send sensitive details.
They assume the conversation is protected because the platform says messages will vanish.
That false sense of safety creates danger.

This is where the real problem begins.

The other person can still misuse what was sent.
A screenshot can be taken in seconds.
A screen recording can preserve everything.
Another phone can photograph the chat.
Content can be copied before expiry.
Personal details can be noted down and used later.
Once information leaves your hands, control leaves with it.

Even where platforms give screenshot alerts, that is not full protection.
It does not stop another device from capturing the screen.
It does not stop someone from storing the content before the alert appears.
It does not reverse exposure.

Deleted messages also create false confidence in personal and professional settings.

People assume:
I deleted it so it is gone
The chat vanished so nobody can prove it
This platform is private so it is safe
That thinking is dangerous

In reality, digital content often leaves traces.
Metadata can remain.
Backups can exist.
Recipients can retain evidence.
Platforms may store limited records.
Investigations can examine devices, cloud backups, account history, linked systems, and recovered data depending on the case.

This matters in cybercrime, harassment, blackmail, workplace misconduct, family disputes, data leaks, and reputation damage.

People need to understand one hard truth:
Temporary visibility does not mean temporary impact.

What we must do:

Never send anything you cannot tolerate being saved
Do not trust disappearing mode as a security feature
Do not share private images, OTPs, passwords, IDs, financial details, or confidential work information in casual chats
Assume every message can be captured
Teach children and young adults that vanishing chats do not remove consequences
Use secure judgment, not platform labels, as your real safety rule

Privacy tools can reduce casual exposure.
They do not eliminate human risk.

The safest message is the one you never send carelessly.

📢 Spread awareness—SHARE this video to protect others too.
🔹 Follow for more expert cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation. Together, we build a safer online world!

🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

https://cybercrime.gov.in

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police, Emeritus)
Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The post Disappearing Chats Are Not Truly Safe! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Screen Sharing App Scams Target Senior Citizens!

Akancha Srivastava — Wed, 13 May 2026 06:21:39 +0000

Beware screen sharing apps!

Screen sharing app scams are aggressively targeting senior citizens across India. These frauds are designed to look like legitimate customer support interactions and are responsible for some of the fastest and most devastating financial losses among elderly victims.

The scam usually begins when a senior citizen searches for customer care related to banking, UPI, pensions, gas connections, electricity bills, telecom services, or medical insurance. In many cases, the victim finds a fake helpline number on Google Search or Google Maps and calls it believing it to be official.

The person on the call introduces themselves as customer support and claims there is an urgent issue with the account. The problem is described in a way that creates fear, confusion, and dependency. The victim is then instructed to install a screen sharing or remote access application such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or similar tools under the pretext of resolving the issue.

Once screen sharing is enabled, the criminal can see everything on the phone in real time. This includes bank apps, UPI apps, OTP messages, SMS alerts, and passwords being typed. The victim is often told to keep the app open and not touch the phone while the issue is being fixed.

During this time, the fraudster initiates UPI collect requests, fund transfers, or account changes. The victim unknowingly approves transactions or reveals sensitive information. Money is drained within minutes. In many cases, fixed deposits are broken, savings accounts emptied, and pension funds wiped out.

This scam is particularly effective against senior citizens because it exploits three factors simultaneously. Limited familiarity with app permissions, deep trust in authority figures, and panic when financial or service access is threatened.

Criminals often stay on the call while the fraud is happening, reassuring the victim that everything is under control. By the time the call ends, the money is gone and the number becomes unreachable.

Common services misused in these scams include
Bank and credit card customer care
UPI and digital wallet support
Gas cylinder and electricity complaint lines
Telecom and SIM related services
Medical insurance and pension services

No legitimate bank, government department, or company ever asks a customer to install a screen sharing app. No customer care executive needs visual access to your phone to resolve an issue. Any such request is a fraud.

What senior citizens and families must do to prevent this scam :

Never install screen sharing or remote access apps on instruction from a caller.
Never search customer care numbers on Google during a crisis. Use numbers printed on bank cards, official apps, bills, or verified websites.
Never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords with anyone claiming to be support.
If a caller creates urgency or fear, disconnect immediately.
If a screen sharing app has already been installed, turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi immediately, uninstall the app, and change all banking and email passwords.
Inform the bank at once and block digital transactions if needed.
Families must proactively warn elderly members that screen sharing equals full phone access.

If a screen sharing app has already been installed, disconnect the internet immediately, uninstall the app, change all banking and email passwords, and inform the bank without delay. File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal as quickly as possible.

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Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

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