Punjab: Teenagers playing online games are becoming victims of cyber crime

Punjab: Teenagers spend a lot of time playing online games, making them increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime. Fraudsters posing as online gamers, under the pretext of offering free gaming rewards, break into mobile phones and steal personal data. Since most teenagers and children also use their parents’ mobile phones, the risk of losing personal information, including financial apps, increases. The Cyber ​​Wing has been receiving complaints from parents that their children’s mobile phones have been hacked. Therefore, the Cyber ​​Police Station of Ludhiana Police has issued an advisory urging people to monitor their children’s online activities. This advisory was shared on the official social media accounts of Ludhiana Police. The advisory states: “Be cautious and safe while playing online games. Do not chat with strangers on game apps. Do not click on suspicious links. Do not share your personal information, such as your mobile number, OTP, or address, with anyone.” It further states: “Avoid fake offers like ‘free diamonds and free coins.’ Online friends are not always true friends. Report any cyber fraud immediately to the cybercrime helpline 1930.” Police sources said that some complaints had already been received from parents that their children’s mobile phones had been hacked when they clicked on links shared by strangers under the pretext of offering game rewards. A cyber police officer said, “The district has recently received more than 10 complaints in which cybercriminals, after hacking mobile phones, stole money from financial apps installed on the phone. Clicking on suspicious links to receive game rewards gives the phone control to strangers.”