#FactCheck: Viral video claims BSF personnel thrashing a person selling Bangladesh National Flag in West Bengal

Disclaimer:

The information is based on claims made by threat actors and does not imply confirmation of the breach, by CyberPeace. CyberPeace includes this detail solely to provide factual transparency and does not condone any unlawful activities. This information is shared only for research purposes and to spread awareness. CyberPeace encourages individuals and organizations to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats.

🚨 Data Breach Alert ⚠️: 

Recently The Research Wing of CyberPeace and Autobot Infosec have come across a claim on a threat actor’s dark web website alleging a data breach involving 637k+ records from Federal Bank. According to the threat actor’s claim, the data allegedly includes sensitive details such as-

• 🧑‍Customer Name
• 🆔Customer ID
• 🏠 Customer Address
• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 🔢 Age
• 🚻 Gender
• 📞Mobile Number
• 🪪 PAN Number
• 🚘 Driving License Number
• 🛂 Passport Number
• 🔑 UID Number
• 🗳️ Voter ID Information

The alleged data was initially discovered on a dark web website, where the threat actors allegedly claimed to be offering the breached information for sale. Following their announcement of the breach, a portion of the data was reportedly published on December 27, 2024. A few days later, the full dataset was allegedly released on the same forum.

About the Threat Actor Group:

Bashe, a ransomware group that emerged in 2024, is claimed to have evolved from the LockBit ransomware group, previously operating under the names APT73 and Eraleig. The group employs data encryption combined with extortion tactics, threatening to release sensitive information if ransom demands are unmet. Their operations primarily target critical industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance, demonstrating a strategic focus on high-value sectors.

Breakdown of the Alleged Post by the Threat Actor:

• Target: Allegedly involves Customer’s Data of Federal Bank.
• Data Volume: Claimed breach includes 637,894 records.
• Data Fields: Threat actor claims the data contains sensitive information, including Customer name, Customer ID, Date of Birth, PAN Number, Age, Gender, Father Name, Spouse Name, Driving Licence, Passport Number, UID Number, Voter ID, District, Zip Code, Home Address, Mailing Address, State etc.

Analysis:

The analysis of the alleged data breach highlights the states purportedly most impacted, along with insights into the affected age groups, gender distribution, and other key insights associated with the compromised data. This evaluation aims to provide a clearer understanding of the claimed breach's scope and its potential demographic and geographic impact.

Top States Impacted: 

As per the alleged breached data, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of affected customers, accounting for a significant 34.49% of the total breach. Karnataka follows closely with 26.89%, indicating a substantial number of individuals affected in the state. In contrast states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan report minimal impact, with each state having less than 1% of affected customers. Gujarat records 3.70% of the breach, with a sharp drop in affected numbers from other states, highlighting a significant disparity in the extent of the breach across regions.

Impacted Age Range Statistics:

The alleged data breach has predominantly impacted customers in the 31-40 years age group, which constitutes the largest segment at 35.80% of the affected individuals. Following this, the 21-30 years age group also shows significant impact, comprising 27.72% of those affected. The 41-50 years age group accounts for 20.55% of the impacted population, while individuals aged 50 and above represent 12.68%. In contrast, the 0-20 years age group is the least affected, with only 3.24% of customers falling into this category.

Gender Wise Statistics:

The alleged data breach has predominantly impacted male customers, who constitute the majority at 74.05% of the affected individuals. Female customers account for 23.18%, while a smaller segment, categorized as "Others," constitutes 2.77%.

The alleged dataset from the threat actors indicated that a significant portion of customers' personal identification data was compromised. This includes sensitive information such as driving licenses, passport numbers, UID numbers, voter IDs, and PAN numbers.

Significance of the Allegations:

Though the claims have not been independently verified at our end it underscores the rising risks of cyberattacks and data breaches, especially in the financial and banking sectors. If true, the exposure of such sensitive information could lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and severe reputational damage for individuals and organizations alike.

CyberPeace Advisory:

CyberPeace emphasizes the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to address cybersecurity risks:

• Monitor Your Accounts: Keep a close eye on financial and email accounts for any suspicious activity.
• Update Passwords: Change your passwords immediately and enable Multi Factor Authentication(MFA) wherever possible.
• Beware of Phishing Attacks: Threat actors may exploit the leaked data to craft targeted phishing scams. Do not click on unsolicited links or share sensitive details over email or phone.
• For Organizations: Strengthen data protection mechanisms, regularly audit security infrastructure, and respond swiftly to emerging threats.
• Report: For more assistance or to report cyber incidents, visit https://cybercrime.gov.in or contact our helpline team at helpline@cyberpeace.net.

We advise affected parties and the broader public to stay alert and take necessary precautions. CyberPeace remains committed to raising awareness about cybersecurity threats and advocating for better protection mechanisms. We urge all stakeholders to investigate the claims and ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect the impacted data, if the breach is confirmed. Our Research Wing is actively observing the situation and we aim to collaborate with the stakeholders and relevant agencies to mitigate the impact.

Stay Vigilant! Stay CyberPeaceful.

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Executive Summary:

Cyber incidents are evolving along with time, they are designed to attract and lure people through social networking sites and/or messaging services. In the recent past a spate of messages alleging that TRAI is offering ‘3 months free recharge with free voice calls and internet for 4g/5g with 200 GB free data’. These messages display the TRAI logo with attractive offers to trick the users into revealing their personal details. This blog discusses the functioning of this free mobile recharge scheme, its methods and guidelines on how to avoid such fake schemes. This blog explains the importance of vigilance and verification when receiving any links, emphasizing the need to report suspicious activities and educate others to prevent identity theft and protect personal information. 

Claim:

The message circulated an  enticing offer: free mobile recharge for 3 months which provides unlimited  free voice calls with 200GB 4G/5G data with TRAI logo. The key characteristics of the false claims are

• Official Branding: The logo of TRAI has been viewed as a deceptive facade of credibility. 

• Unrealistic Offers: It is accompanied by a free recharge , which is intended for an extended period indefinite period, like most fraudsters’ bait. 

• Urgency and Exclusivity: The offer is for a limited time to make urgency forcing the receiver to take the offer without confirmation. 

 The Deceptive Scheme:

Organized systematically, the fraudulent campaign usually proceeds in several steps, all of which aim at extracting  the victim’s personal data. Here’s a breakdown of the scheme:

1. Initial Contact:  Such messages or calls reach the users’ inboxes or phone numbers through social media applications such as WhatsApp or through text messages. These messages further implies that the user was chosen for the special offer from TRAI, which elicits the interest of the user. 

 2. Information Request: To claim the purported offer, users are directed to a website or asked to reply with personal details, including:

•  Phone number 
•  State of residence 
•  SIM provider details 

This is useful for the scammers as they harvest information which can be used to conduct identity theft or sold to others on the shady part of the internet known as the ‘Dark Web’. 

3. Fake Confirmation: After providing all the information, a congratulatory message appears on the screen showing that their phone number is eligible for the offer. The user is compelled to forward the message to many phone numbers through whatsapp to get the offer. 

 4. Pressure Tactics: The  message often implies a sense of time constraint or fear which psychologically produces pressure to provide all the user information. For example, users are given messages such as that if they do not ‘act now’, they will lose their mobile service. 

Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign 

The TRAI fraudulent recharge scheme case depicts that  social engineering is used in cyber crimes. Here are some key aspects that characterize this campaign:

• Sophisticated Social Engineering 

Scammers take advantage of the holders’ confidence in official bodies such as TRAI. By using official TRAI logos, official language they try to deceive even cautious people. 

• Viral Spread 

The user is compelled to share the given message to friends and groups; this is an excellent strategy to spread the scam. It not only spreads the fraudulent message but also tries to extract the details of other people. 

• Technical Analysis

• Domain Name: SGOFF[.]CYOU
• Registry Domain ID: D472308342-CNIC
• Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.hkdns.hk
• Registrar URL: http://www.hkdns.hk
• Updated Date: 2024-07-24T18:50:48.0Z
• Creation Date: 2024-07-19T18:48:44.0Z
• Registry Expiry Date: 2025-07-19T23:59:59.0Z
• Registrar: West263 International Limited
• Registrar IANA ID: 1915
• Registrant State/Province: Anhui
• Registrant Country: CN
• Name Server: NORMAN.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
• Name Server: PAM.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
• DNSSEC: unsigned

Cloudflare Inc. is used to cover the scam. The real website always uses the older domain while this url has been registered recently which indicates that this link is a scam.  

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The  graph indicates that some of the communicated files and websites are malicious.

CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practice:

In light of the growing threat posed by such scams, the Research Wing of CyberPeace recommend the following best practices to help users protect themselves: 

1. Verify Communications: It is always advisable to visit the official site of the organization or call the official contact numbers of the company to speak to their customer care and clarify about the offers. 

2. Do not share personal information: No genuine organization will call the people for personal information.  Step carefully and do not provide personal  information that will lead to identity theft when dealing with such offers. 

3. Report Fraudulent Activity: If one receives any calls or messages that seem to be suspicious, then the user can report cyber crimes to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on www. cybercrime. gov. in or call on 1930. Such scams are reportable and assist the authorities in tracking and fighting the vice. 

4. Educate Others : Always raise awareness among friends by sharing these kinds of scams. Educating people helps to avoid them falling prey to such fraudulent schemes. 

5. Use Reliable Resources :  Always refer to official sources or websites for any kind of offers or promotions.

Conclusion:

The free recharge scheme for 3 months with the logo of TRAI is a fraudulent scam. There is no official information from TRAI or in their official website about this free recharge scheme. Though the scheme looks attractive, it is deceptive.  Through this, the scammers are trying to collect personal details of the individual. Before clicking any links, it is necessary to check the authenticity of the information, report these kinds of incidents to spread awareness among people. Always be safe and be vigilant.  

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Executive Summary:

A viral message is circulating claiming the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has banned the use of black ink for writing cheques. This information is incorrect. The RBI has not issued any such directive, and cheques written in black ink remain valid and acceptable. 

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Claim:

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new guidelines prohibiting using black ink for writing cheques. As per the claimed directive, cheques must now be written exclusively in blue or green ink.

‍Fact Check: 

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Upon thorough verification, it has been confirmed that the claim regarding the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issuing a directive banning the use of black ink for writing cheques is entirely false. No such notification, guideline, or instruction has been released by the RBI in this regard. Cheques written in black ink remain valid, and the public is advised to disregard such unverified messages and rely only on official communications for accurate information. 

As stated by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), this claim is false The Reserve Bank of India has not prescribed specific ink colors to be used for writing cheques. There is a mention of the color of ink to be used in point number 8, which discusses the care customers should take while writing cheques.

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Conclusion:   

The claim that the Reserve Bank of India has banned the use of black ink for writing cheques is completely false. No such directive, rule, or guideline has been issued by the RBI. Cheques written in black ink are valid and acceptable. The RBI has not prescribed any specific ink color for writing cheques, and the public is advised to disregard unverified messages. While general precautions for filling out cheques are mentioned in RBI advisories, there is no restriction on the color of the ink. Always refer to official sources for accurate information.

• Claim: The new RBI ink guidelines are mandatory from a specified date.
• Claimed On: Social Media
• Fact Check:  False and Misleading 

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