A new type of cyber attack has come to the fore, in which school students are being targeted. Security agencies issued an alert on Tuesday after students of military schools received calls from Pakistani intelligence operators (PIOs). Many students studying in Army schools across the country are receiving calls and WhatsApp messages allegedly from PIOs, seeking information about their parents. An advisory has also been issued in this regard by the principals of Army Public Schools. It has been said in the alert that there is a need to be careful with the numbers from which calls are being received by the students.
Calls from these numbers
According to media reports, the numbers from which the students are getting WhatsApp calls or messages are calling themselves school teachers. At the same time, students are also being asked to join new class groups. According to reports, since Monday, students have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from Pakistani intelligence operatives from two numbers- 8617321715 and 9622262167. It has been asked to be careful about calls and messages coming from these numbers. If you also get messages or calls from these numbers, ignore them and block them.
Parents seeking information from students
A senior official says that the callers are posing as school teachers and are asking for information other than sending a one-time password (OTP) to join the group. He said that these suspected PIOs are calling and sending messages initially referring to an acquaintance and then asking students to join other WhatsApp groups (allegedly new class groups) by sharing OTPs.
The official said that the call is being made seeking information about the parents of the PIO student. Students are also being asked other questions related to parents' occupations, school routines, and timings as well as uniforms and names of teachers. Calls and messages were being sent to military schools in different parts of the country. One such incident had also come to the fore from Jammu.
(pc amarujala)
