iWorld
Facebook scamsters now using duplicate IDs for ‘friend in need’ con
MUMBAI: Facebook users beware! There’s a scam gathering pace once again on the social network. And the deceivers are borrowing it from the email phishers who conned many an unsuspecting innocent in the past. At that time, the rogues would pretend to be someone else you knew, and would send you an email sounding desperate, asking you for money as they were in a spot. Many got suckered and parted with their cash.
In the case of Facebook, the con is about these fraudsters creating a duplicate account of individuals and then putting out friends’ requests to the original account owner’s network. The page looks exactly like the original account with similar pictures; the only difference, the fake account has less friends and family connections.
Once someone adds the fake account as a friend, the impostor keeps asking you for money via Facebook messenger urgently in multiples of Rs 15,000, saying he is in a spot of bother. The first option, he urges you, is to transfer money via Google Pay, the second via PhonePe. And then he is even open to getting the cash to his phone through bank transfer via Airtel Payments Bank.
All along, he keeps sticking to his tone of familiarity – since he has stolen the identity of someone you know – and urgency, saying he is in the hospital with a friend who has met with a major accident.
The only way to find out if it is a swindle that’s about to happen is to have a strong heart and not fall for it. Call the original Facebook account holder and ask him or her whether he or she really needs the money. And that will break the cheater’s fake story.
Many have fallen for this hustle and lost their dough. And there’s no getting it back. For once, you transfer the money, it’s gone. The wheeler dealer deletes the fake account quickly or makes it private. Even his direct messages to you vanish into thin air. And you are that much poorer for your goodness to help someone you thought was a friend or family member in need.
So please tread with caution when someone on a social network asks you for money; don’t say we did not warn you.
Gaming
Samsung’s #PlayGalaxy Cup 5.0 crowns Kaashvi Warriors
Galaxy S26-powered esports event reaches 350 million plus users with 48 top creators.
MUMBAI: Samsung just powered up India’s gaming arena because when Galaxy S26 meets creator chaos, even the controllers get excited. India’s largest consumer electronics brand, Samsung, hosted the fifth edition of #PlayGalaxy Cup, powered by the all-new Galaxy S26 series, bringing together 48 top gaming creators for a high-stakes tournament. Kaashvi Warriors emerged as champions after approximately four and a half hours of intense head-to-head matchups, livestreamed on Samsung India’s official YouTube channel and select Exclusive Stores nationwide, reaching over 350 million users.
The event featured leading talents from Opraahfx, including TechnoGamerz, MythPat, GamerFleet, Desi Gamers, Gautami Abhyudaya, Sooneeta, and Sourav Joshi, delivering massive engagement and competitive fire.
The Galaxy S26 series stole the show with its enhanced performance, immersive display technology, reduced thickness, and lighter weight proving its mettle in sustained peak gameplay under tournament pressure.
Samsung Mobile,vice president and head of product marketing & e-commerce Aditya Babbar said, “At Samsung, we’re proud to empower India’s vibrant esports community with Galaxy devices designed for high-performance gaming. #PlayGalaxy Cup has now entered its fifth edition… we’ve taken it to the next level with even bigger battles and exclusive experiences.”
Over five seasons, #PlayGalaxy Cup has grown from tournament to creator-community powerhouse, cementing Samsung’s bond with Gen Z and millennial gamers fuelling India’s esports boom.
In a scene where mobile gaming is exploding, Samsung’s latest showcase wasn’t just a win for Kaashvi Warriors,it’s a statement that the right device can turn any matchup into a multi-million-view spectacle.
