Cybercriminals impersonating as Delhi Police Commissioner and targeting Indian netizens with…
Cybercriminals impersonating as Delhi Police Commissioner and targeting Indian netizens with Sextortion campaign
Today, one of our follower has approached us regarding a fraud call which he received. The follower told us that, he has received a friend request from a female (Anamika Goyal) on Facebook, he has accepted the request as the profile picture was attractive. Later, a conversation strikes between them and the female has shared her contact number and asked follower to contact on WhatsApp. Few minutes later, he has received a video call on WhatsApp from (+91–8795809953).
The curious follower received the video call, he was shocked to see an obscene video getting played on the video call. He disconnected the call, and soon after disconnecting it, he received a normal call from the same number (+91–8795809953) and was told that all the activities on the video call has been recorded and will be shared with police if a certain amount was not paid as-soon-as-possible. He also received a morphed video of himself having sexual content.
Our follower got panicked and got into a shock state after the call. After some time he received a call from different number (+91–6009455428) on which the other person was claiming that he is calling from Police and his name is Rajendar Yogi and shared a picture of a police man from WhatsApp, also the person said about the complaint being transferred to local police station.
After listening to our follower experience, our team got into action and further analyzed the whole timeline and found out that this was one of the infamous Sextortion campaigns and the follower was one of the potential victim.
Initial Analysis
We investigated about the name (Rajendar Yogi), and picture shared by the Cybercriminals. After performing an ‘Image Analysis’ using Google Images, we identifed that the picture belonged to Mr Rakesh Asthana, Commissioner of Police, Delhi. Cybercriminals have been using fake name with impersonated picture of Delhi Police Commissioner to threaten their victims.
Dissecting the sender mobile numbers
Upon analysing the sender mobile number (+91-6009455428), we noted that the phone number is valid and assigned to the telephone carrier Reliance Jio located in West Tripura, India.
Furthermore, the number has been also reported as spam, and details mentioned for Rajendra Yogi, Crime Branch, Chanakyapuri Police Station, Delhi.
Another phone number (+91-8795809953) is valid and assigned to the telephone carrier Vodafone located in UttarPradesh, India.
Conclusion
Cybercriminals are luring netizens with fake facebook profiles are not new, later impersonating as Delhi Police Commissioner and have created a fake profile of Delhi Commissioner of Police on WhatsApp to threats vicitms are a new technique. We suggest netizens to be extra cautious regarding these kind of threats, as this can lead to extorting money from the victims, and in most of the cases victims pays to extortionists, because of a fear of getting exposed to friends and family.
Lessons Learnt
We have listed some essential best practices that create the first line of control against these type of social media threats. We recommend our readers to follow the best practices given below:-
- Please donot accept friend request from unknown person on social media channels like- Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, LinkedIn, Telegram and WhatsApp.
- If you have accepted the friend request by mistake, then avoid initating the interaction with the person and not to disclose any personal information. Unfriend the person immediately.
- Do not pickup any suspicious WhatsApp calls, and if picked by mistake then cover the front camera with thumb and try to check the activities other side.
- Immediately report any such suspicious calls to Police cyber cell or register a online complaint at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/ or Dial 1930.
Observeables-
- Anamika Goyal (Facebook profile of the cybercriminal)
- 91–8795809953 (Phone number of Anamika Goyal)
- +91–6009455428 (Phone number of Extortionist Rajendra Yadav, impersonating as Delhi Police commissioner)
About Us
Security Chronicle is a team of independent security researchers and a dedicated platform to educate, aware netizens on #security #risks & #threats.
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