Often Considered Safe, But This Data is Often the Target of Fraudsters!

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - Behind the ease of digital transactions, there are fraudsters who are also increasingly clever in carrying out their modus operandi. One of the evolving fraud methods is fraud in the name of official parties. The main goal is to steal the victim's personal data to benefit themselves.

To make the potential victim more confident, the fraudster usually disguises himself as a Customer Service team from various official services such as e-commerce, shipping services, banks, and even government institutions. They deliberately try to trick the victim by scaring them, making the victim panic, and even giving the victim a tempting offer.

At the time the victim started to slack off, this scammer then began to carry out his actions. For example, directing the victim to click on suspicious links that led to the theft of accounts and personal data, asking the victim to transfer a certain amount of money, asking the victim to open a loan account, and much more.

Therefore, it is important to always be careful and keep the confidentiality of our personal data. What are the personal data that are most often targeted by fraudsters and should we take care of?

1. Full Name and Phone Number

The first data is the full name and phone number. Although it looks trivial and is not sensitive data, the name and phone number are often the entrance for fraudsters to contact potential victims. With this information alone, fraudsters can impersonate official parties to obtain other sensitive data. Always be alert to calls and messages from unknown numbers that ask you to share personal data or certain account information.

2. Password and OTP Code

Password and OTP codes are personal data that are also often the target of fraudsters. These two pieces of information are the most important to keep your account secure. If these two pieces of information fall into the hands of fraudsters, they can easily take over your account and misuse it for their own benefit. Currently, fraudsters are also getting more creative in stealing passwords and OTP codes for their potential victims.

One of the ways that is widespread is to invite the victim to participate in an online meeting and ask them to share their screen (sharescreen). While the victim is sharing the screen, the victim will be asked to open a banking application or a certain application and enter the password, PIN or OTP code of the account. Therefore, make sure not to carelessly share password information or OTP codes even to people who claim to be official parties.

3. Financial Data

Financial data such as account numbers, debit/credit card numbers, and other payment information are also personal data that must be guarded. Fraudsters often try to get this information in various ways, ranging from claiming to be bank officers, Customer Service, to offering certain gifts or assistance.

If the information is provided, the perpetrator can access the victim's account or make transactions without permission. Therefore, never share payment information with anyone, including those who claim to be official institutions.

To obtain various personal data, fraudsters usually do not ask openly. In addition to disguising themselves as official parties with great conviction, the perpetrators then make the victim panic or tempted so that they unknowingly provide personal information, click on suspicious links, or follow instructions that lead to account and data theft.

As one of the e-commerce services in Indonesia, Shopee also actively invites its users to implement 3C so that they are not easily deceived by scammers, namely:

1. Check the Sender: official information from Shopee is only sent via the application, Shopee's blue-checked WhatsApp account, Shopee's official verified social media, and Shopee's Customer Service phone number 1500702.

2. Check Facts: verify any information that represents Shopee by using the "Check Facts" feature in the "I" > "Customer Service" section of the Shopee application.

3. Find out the modus operandi: the modus operandi can continue to change, follow the @shopeecare_id account on Instagram so that you are always up to date about Shopee-based fraud.

In today's digital era, fraud methods will continue to evolve as your personal data is always at risk.