Patna – Special Correspondent
Public mobile charging points in Bihar have become the latest target for digital fraudsters. Installed in crowded areas such as railway stations, airports, malls, and restaurants, these charging points—where people plug in their phones—have turned into a goldmine for cybercriminals.
Experts say that taking advantage of users’ carelessness, criminals are causing losses worth lakhs of rupees. This is not a recent phenomenon alone—over the past two years, nearly 334,000 people in Bihar have fallen victim to cyber fraud. According to data from the Department of Telecommunications, since 2023, millions of users have been caught in “juice jacking” schemes.
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What is Juice Jacking?
Cybercriminals inject code into public charging points, enabling them to steal or track the data on connected devices. Through USB chargers, they can access photos, banking information, contact lists, and other sensitive data. Experts warn that simply plugging in a phone at a public charger can compromise a user’s data.
Former IPS and Cybercrime Expert, Prof. Triveni Singh, said:
“Plugging your phone into a public charging station is one of the easiest ways for modern fraudsters to strike. People are often focused only on charging their device and remain unaware of the risk of data theft. I repeatedly warn that your banking data, emails, and personal photos are vulnerable at public charging points.”
“We have seen multiple cases where just a few minutes of juice jacking led to the theft of lakhs of rupees worth of data. Cybercriminals use sophisticated techniques to install malware in the background of your phone. Users should rely only on their personal chargers or power banks and avoid connecting to public USB ports.”
“Cyber awareness is no longer optional—it is essential. Just as we protect our homes and money, safeguarding mobile devices and digital data is equally crucial. Only vigilance can save people from falling prey to these modern scams.”
The Department of Telecommunications has now urged the public to exercise caution when using public charging points. As per departmental guidelines, warning and safety signs are being installed at all public charging stations to alert users and help them stay vigilant while charging their devices.
Cybersecurity analysts note that many people leave their phones charging overnight on trains, exposing themselves to significant cyber fraud risks. In some reported cases, juice jacking has resulted in losses of up to ₹100,000.
Expert Recommendations:
- Always use a personal charger or power bank instead of public USB ports.
- Avoid connecting your device to unknown or public USB ports.
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication on your phone.
