Jammu, Sep 30: Amid a rise in cyber frauds and online scams, Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant and avoid downloading unverified mobile applications, particularly illegal loan apps masquerading as genuine financial services.
In a social media post, Jammu and Kashmir Police cautioned that cyber criminals are increasingly using the names, logos and identities of well-known financial institutions to deceive users into downloading fraudulent applications.
“Scammers may misuse the names, logos or identities of known financial brands to make illegal loan apps appear genuine on app stores or through online promotions. Always verify before downloading,” the police said in its advisory.
The advisory comes at a time when cyber fraud cases are witnessing an upward trend, with fraudsters employing increasingly sophisticated methods to target unsuspecting users. Police officials have advised people to download applications only from trusted and verified sources and to carefully verify the authenticity of any financial service before sharing personal or banking information.
J&K Police also appealed to citizens to report cyber frauds immediately to enable authorities to take prompt action and increase the chances of recovering lost funds.
“If you are a victim of cyber fraud, immediately call 1930 or report it at cybercrime.gov.in,” the advisory stated.
Sources said the latest warning was issued after police received a number of complaints related to online fraud and cyber scams. Authorities have initiated a public awareness campaign to counter attempts by notorious cyber criminals who use fake applications, phishing links and misleading online advertisements to cheat people.
Officials said cyber fraudsters often lure victims with promises of instant loans, easy approvals and attractive financial offers, only to gain access to sensitive personal data, banking credentials and financial information.
The police have urged the public to remain cautious while conducting online transactions, avoid clicking on suspicious links, verify the credentials of financial service providers and promptly report any suspicious activity to the cyber crime helpline.
The advisory is part of the ongoing efforts by Jammu and Kashmir Police to strengthen cyber security awareness and protect citizens from the growing threat of online financial frauds.