Tamil Nadu’s Cyber Crime Wing’s Additional Director General of Police, Sandeep Mittal, has issued a warning to users of the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) regarding the circulation of fake news clippings and advertisements featuring popular singer Shreya Ghoshal. Mittal highlighted that these deceptive posts are designed as “traps” to lure the public and often contain sensational headlines, misleading website links, and falsified logos of legitimate news outlets like The Indian Express to appear genuine. He specifically pointed out that verified X accounts with a small number of followers, ranging from 10 to 15, are promoting these scams. Mittal urged X to adopt mechanisms for detecting and blocking such accounts engaging in criminal activities.
In a recent post on X, ADG Mittal cautioned, “Verified @X Handles, having 10 to 15 followers, promoting Shreya Ghoshal Ads are scam traps to lure the public into cyber scams. Be alert, be safe……. @X should have mechanism to detect and block such handles openly indulging in criminal activities.”
This warning comes after Shreya Ghoshal herself took to Instagram to reveal that her X account was hacked on February 13th. In her post, Ghoshal informed her fans and followers about the breach, alerting them not to click on any links or believe any messages from the compromised account as they are all spam and phishing attempts. She expressed her frustration at being unable to regain access to her account or delete it due to the hack. Ghoshal promised to provide a personal update through a video once the account is recovered and secured.
Unfortunately, Ghoshal is not the only celebrity to fall victim to cybersecurity breaches on X. Earlier this year, actor Swara Bhasker and comedian Tanmay Bhat also reported that their accounts were hacked and exploited to disseminate spam and phishing links.
These incidents emphasize the importance of cybersecurity awareness and vigilance, not only for celebrities but for all users of social media platforms. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics and target unsuspecting individuals, it is crucial to stay informed, exercise caution while interacting online, and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
In conclusion, the warning issued by ADG Sandeep Mittal serves as a reminder of the pervasive threat of cyber scams and the need for heightened cybersecurity measures. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and social media platforms is essential in combating fraudulent activities and ensuring the safety of users in the digital realm. Stay alert, stay safe, and always verify the authenticity of online content before engaging with it.