With the launch of the much-awaited 5G telecom service in select cities in the country, cyber fraudsters seem to be on the prowl with their new 'conversion scam' to cheat people.
Cybercrime police have already warned people of the fraudsters who might take the 5G launch as an opportunity for phishing and also OTP or one-time password-based cheating.
People have been warned not to share one-time passwords (OTPs) or any other sensitive information with any unknown person over phone who may contact on the pretext of offering an upgrade from 4G to 5G SIM.
Know how to remain safe and not to fall prey to fraudsters
- You must remember that telecom companies will never ask for OTPs to provide 5G service
- You should never share OTP with any telecaller as it might wipe out your bank accounts
- Any call made to you under the guise of offering special offers or advanced booking is a SPAM
- Clicking on any link sent to you by a stranger may be malicious and a single click will give them access to all your information stored in phone
- Don't pay heed to any SMS offering an upgrade of your existing 4G plan to 5G plan
- Don't reply and click on any link sent to you through SMS or mail promising an upgradation
Important to Note: Airtel and Jio, the firms that have rolled out 5G networks in select cities across the country, have already made it clear that their subscribers do not need to upgrade their SIM cards from 4G to 5G to enjoy the next-generation mobile network.