Exams near, cons bank on ‘paper leak’ fears

Bhopal: With Class 10 and 12 board exams approaching, cyber-cons are exploiting the anxiety and apprehension around ‘leaked question papers' among city students, circulating fake and suspicious links and documents on Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram. In response, the cyber crime police in Bhopal has issued an advisory cautioning students and parents to not fall for the defrauding conceits. Officials said fraudsters are sharing bogus papers and claiming they are authentic leaks, when in fact they are fabricated and intended to cheat people out of money.According to the advisory, scammers often post small snippets, sample pages, or alleged solutions to make the material look credible. After gaining trust, they demand large payments for the "full paper" or for access to private groups. Police warned that this tactic not only results in financial loss but can also put students' academic futures at risk. The cyber cell stressed that students should not trust question papers from unknown sources and should avoid buying, sharing, or forwarding such material. The advisory noted that dealing in leaked papers is a criminal offence and can attract strict penalties. Authorities had to reiterate that genuine question papers are available only at exam centres through official procedures.Students were urged to focus on preparation and rely only on official information shared through board websites, schools, and authorised channels. Parents were asked to remain alert to pressure tactics and emotional manipulation used by scammers, including claims of "limited time," "guaranteed marks," or "confirmed leaks."The advisory also asked the public to report suspicious links, messages, and accounts immediately, and to avoid circulating them further. Anyone who becomes a victim of cyber fraud was advised to contact the cyber helpline or file a complaint through the official cybercrime reporting portal without delay.