July 26, 2026
Updated: Jul 06, 2026, 10:47 IST

Updated: Jul 06, 2026, 10:47 IST

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

England’s Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Jude Bellingham etched his name into the FIFA World Cup record books after scoring the third-fastest brace in tournament history during…

Read More
Women’s T20 World Cup final: Money, Litchfield, bowlers star as Australia clinch 7th title

Women’s T20 World Cup final: Money, Litchfield, bowlers star as Australia clinch 7th title

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Australia Women’s team, rewriting history Normal services has resumed in women’s international cricket. Australia are back. After losing in back-to-back semifinals, the Australian women’s team, led by a new captain in Sophie Molineux, has clinched a World Cup again.Powered by a magnificent half-century by experienced campaigner Beth Mooney (64, 49b, 10×4) and explosive young gun…

Read More
Atlee reveals his biggest regret at ‘Idhayam Murali’ event: ‘I couldn’t make another love story after ‘Raja Rani”

Atlee reveals his biggest regret at ‘Idhayam Murali’ event: ‘I couldn’t make another love story after ‘Raja Rani”

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

The pre-release event of ‘Idhayam Murali’ turned into a memorable evening as filmmaker Atlee shared heartfelt thoughts about the film, its director Aakash Baskaran, and his own journey in cinema. The romantic entertainer, starring Atharvaa, is all set to hit theatres on July 10 and has already created a strong buzz with its trailer. While…

Read More
Himani Shivpuri’s home ‘Shail Shikhar’ is a typical mountain retreat with a calm and soothing colour palette: Art inspirations to steal

Himani Shivpuri’s home ‘Shail Shikhar’ is a typical mountain retreat with a calm and soothing colour palette: Art inspirations to steal

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Veteran actress Himani Shivpuri has unveiled her serene Mussoorie home, ‘Shail Shikhar,’ a haven of simple living and artistic touches. The abode embraces a calming grey and white palette, allowing curated furniture and art to shine. From a vibrant orange room featuring a cow canvas to playful floral accents and elegantly lined sofas, Shivpuri’s home…

Read More
A scientist built 200 hotels for bees. Three years later, the guests he found changed what we know about pollinators and biodiversity

A scientist built 200 hotels for bees. Three years later, the guests he found changed what we know about pollinators and biodiversity

Vamsikrishna05 mins mins

Hotels are usually built for travellers, but some are designed for creatures no bigger than your thumb. Scientists and conservationists have spent years creating these miniature refuges for wild bees in the form of small nesting structures fitted with narrow tunnels that mimic the hollow stems and cavities many solitary bee species naturally use to…

Read More
Illustration: Uday Deb So, you’ve been using AI to make office work a bit easier. Or perhaps you’re using it to help stick to your healthy-eating goals. But did you know that AI has also made it easy — frighteningly easy — to pull off all sorts of digital scams? The fraudsters were always there, and so were their targets. It’s the cloak of credibility, the air of plausibility in which AI has helped dress up digital scams that’s scary. Thanks to AI, potential defrauders don’t have to actually know any of the tech stuff themselves. They just need a Telegram account, a few thousand rupees, and the ‘right’ places to go on the web: the “Fraud-as-a-Service” (FaaS) platforms.It is as easy as e-commerce. Dissatisfied customers even get their money back.Cybersecurity experts who scour the shadowy corners of the dark web say the FaaS model borrows directly from the ‘software-as-a service’, or ‘SaaS’, economy. And platforms with names that leave little to the imagination — FraudGPT, WormGPT, EvilGPT, DarkBard and DarkWizardAI — are all part of a growing ecosystem in which fraud tools are packaged, updated and sold.The way it works is simple: a potential scammer goes to the site and subscribes to the scam toolkit required. From AI-generated phishing mails tailored by a victim’s job, location, role, geography or financial behaviour, to sending out fake emergency calls from relatives, and from deepfake KYC videos to using AI voices or deepfakes to impersonate officials who threaten digital arrest, it’s possible to pull off any scam for a small fee.‘Industrialisation of fraud’“FaaS schemes are almost indistinguishable from how normal, legal businesses operate — constantly optimising their return on investment through scalable tactics,” says a report by Juniper Research, a UK-based market intelligence and analyst firm.QuoteIt’s the “industrialisation of fraud”, says Srinivas L, joint MD and joint CEO of 63SATS Cybertech, a cybersecurity solutions firm. “If you have about Rs 2,000 and a Telegram account, you can easily perpetrate fraud — and you don’t have to write a single line of code,” Srinivas explains.Vishal Gauri, CEO of data security company Seclore Technology, says the biggest change is the collapse of the skill barrier. “The attacker no longer needs technical knowhow; they just need to subscribe. These FaaS platforms come with documentation, customer support and version updates. The operating model is enterprise SaaS for criminals,” he says.AI has also made scaling up easier. A fraudster can now generate thousands of personalised phishing emails in different languages, clone voices from short audio clips, create deepfake KYC videos, and automate messages tailored to a victim’s job, location or financial behaviour.“AI generates personalisation at scale,” Gauri says. “The same FaaS platform can produce one lakh tailored phishing emails or 1,000 deepfake calls in hours, each targeted by role, geography and language.”Citing US-based cybersecurity firm DeepStrike’s 2025 report, he says FaaS offerings on the dark web marketplaces grew by more than 120% year-on-year. These marketplaces processed .4 billion in transaction volume in 2025, while daily Tor (The Onion Router, a free, open-source software network designed to enable anonymous internet communication, not illegal in itself) users rose from 3 million in 2024 to 4.6 million in 2025.Scamsters’ paradiseAcross FaaS platforms, the commonest product sold is the phishing kit. In underground circles, some of these packages are known as ‘SCAMA’. They include fake login pages designed to mimic those of banks, e-commerce companies, govt-facing platforms and public services such as IRCTC. Depending on the number of templates and services bundled, such kits can cost between Rs 500 and Rs 8,500 a month.Once bought, they are used to send texts, emails or links that appear to come from legitimate companies. Victims are directed to fake pages, where they enter usernames, passwords, card details, UPI PINs or other credentials. The fraudster does not need to build the page or understand how the backend works. The kit does it all.But phishing is only one part of the larger business. The fraud supply chain now includes identity datasets, mule account networks, SIM cards, OTP interception tools, fake customer care centres, deepfake video tools, KYC bypass services and payment-routing systems.Ranjan Reddy, founder and CEO of Bureau, a US-based fraud prevention and identity intelligence platform, says the underground market has evolved from merely selling leaked data to selling complete fraud modules. “If you want to launch a romance scam, you can buy the entire module,” he says.A basic subscription may cost (Rs 1,902) a month for templates, while (Rs 4,755) may include live support over Telegram or WhatsApp. Deepfake KYC subscriptions, he said, can cost about 0 (Rs 15,220) and allow users to create large numbers of fake accounts.India’s weak spotsMule accounts are among India’s most serious problems, Srinivas says. Young jobseekers are lured through Telegram and WhatsApp groups with offers of quick money — sometimes Rs 5,000 a week — for allowing transactions through their bank accounts. Many do not realise they are helping launder the proceeds of cybercrime.India’s vulnerability is amplified by the speed of its digital adoption. UPI has made transfers instant, and millions of first-time digital users from Tier-2 and -3 markets now transact online daily. But digital literacy, experts say, has not kept pace with access. “India has become a big target. UPI is the Ferrari car that we built without brakes,” Srinivas says, pointing out that nearly 86% of Indian households are online, while many users still lack what he calls a “fraud reflex”.Bureau data shows that a complete identity profile can be assembled for under Rs 400.“What once required technical expertise and established criminal connections now requires only a payment,” Bureau says in its report ‘India Fraud Report 2026: Digital Fraud at Scale’. According to data provided by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, India lost Rs 22,495 crore to cybercrime in 2025, a 24% increase over 2024. The country registered 28.15 lakh cybercrime cases. Investment scams accounted for 76% of losses, while digital arrest scams made up 9%.QuoteBanks have shared 18.43 lakh suspect identifiers and 24.67 lakh mule accounts through the I4C registry, helping prevent fraud worth about Rs 8,031 crore. But industry executives say attacks continue to rise.Fraud hubs have also spread beyond Jamtara, with locations such as Nuh, Alwar, Bharatpur, Mathura, Bokaro, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Guwahati and Visakhapatnam under increased scrutiny.Companies under attackConsumer platforms, too, are increasingly being hit — by refund abuse, reseller fraud, fake accounts and account-takeover attacks. Bureau estimates reseller-driven leakage at 2% to 5% of gross merchandise value for large e-commerce platforms. Food delivery platforms alone see fraud volumes of Rs 10 crore to Rs 30 crore a month per platform.Images generated using AI are being used to fake damaged products or incorrect deliveries, enabling fraudulent refunds. In other cases, a single device cycles through hundreds of accounts to harvest promotions before targeting accounts with saved payment instruments.Citing research data, Gauri says 82.6% of phishing emails are now AI-generated. Around 47% of Indian adults have either been victims of, or know someone who has been a victim of, an AI voicecloning or deepfake scam, he adds, citing BioCatch data.Defences are catching upCybersecurity firms are trying to respond to the threats at different points in the chain.Ashish Tondon, CEO and founder of Indusface, says AI is helping attackers discover vulnerabilities in existing applications at machine speed. “These are not new classes of vulnerabilities,” he says. “Because of machine speed, what was found in days and months is now being found in minutes.”Digital scams, in 11 easy stepsHyderabad-based Blue Cloud Softech Solutions is focusing on dark-web monitoring through Blutor, while 63SATS Cybertech is targeting citizen-facing defence through CYBX, a cybersecurity app with embedded insurance.Seclore is focusing on enterprise data protection. Gauri says every exposed file, credential, prompt history or unmasked record inside an AI pipeline can become raw material for fraud.Identifying the real threatLawenforcement agencies are also trying to catch up. Hyderabad cybercrime police say they have not yet come across scamsters directly using such AI tools in local cases, but acknowledge that the ecosystem has become much more organised and transnational.“Previously, cybercrime involved isolated incidents with most of the players from India. But now it is becoming more organised, modernised and international. Fraudsters seem to be using new technologies and modernised tools and networks such as AI tools, mule accounts, SIM networks and digital platforms to exploit loopholes in our systems,” says Arvind Voleti, DCP Cybercrime, Hyderabad.Voleti says data leakage is a major concern and that enforcement of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act would strengthen accountability.For cybersecurity firms and law enforcement agencies, the lesson is clear: fraud can no longer be treated as scattered crimes investigated after victims lose money. It is now an industry with subscriptions, infrastructure, service desks, upgrades and global payment channels.“The question is not about being Digital India. We have to be a trusted Digital India, and that requires treating fraud as an industry to dismantle and not as a crime that just needs to be looked at,” Srinivas says.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorSwati BharadwajSwati Bharadwaj is a business journalist with 30 years of experience covering a host of sectors – right from technology, GCCs, talent, cybersecurity, pharma & biotech, aerospace & defence, BFSI, gems & jewellery to automotive, hospitality, infrastructure, retail, among others. She has worked with TOI and ET across multiple cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s .4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesFrom Chilla to Dosa: 7 high-protein desi breakfasts made with oats and paneerDaily weight loss pill available in UK pharmacies: Who can buy and how, how much they cost, how to take them, and more — all you need to knowQuote of the day by Neem Karoli Baba: “God will give you everything you need for your spiritual development. Hold on to nothing.”; What Maharaj ji advices on having faith in God and leaving attachment to material possessions5 most common cancers affecting men in India and the early symptoms that could save livesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heart123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderMumbai schools holidayMumbai-Pune expresswayTop TrendingOzempic ShaadiDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha

Illustration: Uday Deb So, you’ve been using AI to make office work a bit easier. Or perhaps you’re using it to help stick to your healthy-eating goals. But did you know that AI has also made it easy — frighteningly easy — to pull off all sorts of digital scams? The fraudsters were always there, and so were their targets. It’s the cloak of credibility, the air of plausibility in which AI has helped dress up digital scams that’s scary. Thanks to AI, potential defrauders don’t have to actually know any of the tech stuff themselves. They just need a Telegram account, a few thousand rupees, and the ‘right’ places to go on the web: the “Fraud-as-a-Service” (FaaS) platforms.It is as easy as e-commerce. Dissatisfied customers even get their money back.Cybersecurity experts who scour the shadowy corners of the dark web say the FaaS model borrows directly from the ‘software-as-a service’, or ‘SaaS’, economy. And platforms with names that leave little to the imagination — FraudGPT, WormGPT, EvilGPT, DarkBard and DarkWizardAI — are all part of a growing ecosystem in which fraud tools are packaged, updated and sold.The way it works is simple: a potential scammer goes to the site and subscribes to the scam toolkit required. From AI-generated phishing mails tailored by a victim’s job, location, role, geography or financial behaviour, to sending out fake emergency calls from relatives, and from deepfake KYC videos to using AI voices or deepfakes to impersonate officials who threaten digital arrest, it’s possible to pull off any scam for a small fee.‘Industrialisation of fraud’“FaaS schemes are almost indistinguishable from how normal, legal businesses operate — constantly optimising their return on investment through scalable tactics,” says a report by Juniper Research, a UK-based market intelligence and analyst firm.QuoteIt’s the “industrialisation of fraud”, says Srinivas L, joint MD and joint CEO of 63SATS Cybertech, a cybersecurity solutions firm. “If you have about Rs 2,000 and a Telegram account, you can easily perpetrate fraud — and you don’t have to write a single line of code,” Srinivas explains.Vishal Gauri, CEO of data security company Seclore Technology, says the biggest change is the collapse of the skill barrier. “The attacker no longer needs technical knowhow; they just need to subscribe. These FaaS platforms come with documentation, customer support and version updates. The operating model is enterprise SaaS for criminals,” he says.AI has also made scaling up easier. A fraudster can now generate thousands of personalised phishing emails in different languages, clone voices from short audio clips, create deepfake KYC videos, and automate messages tailored to a victim’s job, location or financial behaviour.“AI generates personalisation at scale,” Gauri says. “The same FaaS platform can produce one lakh tailored phishing emails or 1,000 deepfake calls in hours, each targeted by role, geography and language.”Citing US-based cybersecurity firm DeepStrike’s 2025 report, he says FaaS offerings on the dark web marketplaces grew by more than 120% year-on-year. These marketplaces processed $3.4 billion in transaction volume in 2025, while daily Tor (The Onion Router, a free, open-source software network designed to enable anonymous internet communication, not illegal in itself) users rose from 3 million in 2024 to 4.6 million in 2025.Scamsters’ paradiseAcross FaaS platforms, the commonest product sold is the phishing kit. In underground circles, some of these packages are known as ‘SCAMA’. They include fake login pages designed to mimic those of banks, e-commerce companies, govt-facing platforms and public services such as IRCTC. Depending on the number of templates and services bundled, such kits can cost between Rs 500 and Rs 8,500 a month.Once bought, they are used to send texts, emails or links that appear to come from legitimate companies. Victims are directed to fake pages, where they enter usernames, passwords, card details, UPI PINs or other credentials. The fraudster does not need to build the page or understand how the backend works. The kit does it all.But phishing is only one part of the larger business. The fraud supply chain now includes identity datasets, mule account networks, SIM cards, OTP interception tools, fake customer care centres, deepfake video tools, KYC bypass services and payment-routing systems.Ranjan Reddy, founder and CEO of Bureau, a US-based fraud prevention and identity intelligence platform, says the underground market has evolved from merely selling leaked data to selling complete fraud modules. “If you want to launch a romance scam, you can buy the entire module,” he says.A basic subscription may cost $20 (Rs 1,902) a month for templates, while $50 (Rs 4,755) may include live support over Telegram or WhatsApp. Deepfake KYC subscriptions, he said, can cost about $160 (Rs 15,220) and allow users to create large numbers of fake accounts.India’s weak spotsMule accounts are among India’s most serious problems, Srinivas says. Young jobseekers are lured through Telegram and WhatsApp groups with offers of quick money — sometimes Rs 5,000 a week — for allowing transactions through their bank accounts. Many do not realise they are helping launder the proceeds of cybercrime.India’s vulnerability is amplified by the speed of its digital adoption. UPI has made transfers instant, and millions of first-time digital users from Tier-2 and -3 markets now transact online daily. But digital literacy, experts say, has not kept pace with access. “India has become a big target. UPI is the Ferrari car that we built without brakes,” Srinivas says, pointing out that nearly 86% of Indian households are online, while many users still lack what he calls a “fraud reflex”.Bureau data shows that a complete identity profile can be assembled for under Rs 400.“What once required technical expertise and established criminal connections now requires only a payment,” Bureau says in its report ‘India Fraud Report 2026: Digital Fraud at Scale’. According to data provided by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, India lost Rs 22,495 crore to cybercrime in 2025, a 24% increase over 2024. The country registered 28.15 lakh cybercrime cases. Investment scams accounted for 76% of losses, while digital arrest scams made up 9%.QuoteBanks have shared 18.43 lakh suspect identifiers and 24.67 lakh mule accounts through the I4C registry, helping prevent fraud worth about Rs 8,031 crore. But industry executives say attacks continue to rise.Fraud hubs have also spread beyond Jamtara, with locations such as Nuh, Alwar, Bharatpur, Mathura, Bokaro, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Guwahati and Visakhapatnam under increased scrutiny.Companies under attackConsumer platforms, too, are increasingly being hit — by refund abuse, reseller fraud, fake accounts and account-takeover attacks. Bureau estimates reseller-driven leakage at 2% to 5% of gross merchandise value for large e-commerce platforms. Food delivery platforms alone see fraud volumes of Rs 10 crore to Rs 30 crore a month per platform.Images generated using AI are being used to fake damaged products or incorrect deliveries, enabling fraudulent refunds. In other cases, a single device cycles through hundreds of accounts to harvest promotions before targeting accounts with saved payment instruments.Citing research data, Gauri says 82.6% of phishing emails are now AI-generated. Around 47% of Indian adults have either been victims of, or know someone who has been a victim of, an AI voicecloning or deepfake scam, he adds, citing BioCatch data.Defences are catching upCybersecurity firms are trying to respond to the threats at different points in the chain.Ashish Tondon, CEO and founder of Indusface, says AI is helping attackers discover vulnerabilities in existing applications at machine speed. “These are not new classes of vulnerabilities,” he says. “Because of machine speed, what was found in days and months is now being found in minutes.”Digital scams, in 11 easy stepsHyderabad-based Blue Cloud Softech Solutions is focusing on dark-web monitoring through Blutor, while 63SATS Cybertech is targeting citizen-facing defence through CYBX, a cybersecurity app with embedded insurance.Seclore is focusing on enterprise data protection. Gauri says every exposed file, credential, prompt history or unmasked record inside an AI pipeline can become raw material for fraud.Identifying the real threatLawenforcement agencies are also trying to catch up. Hyderabad cybercrime police say they have not yet come across scamsters directly using such AI tools in local cases, but acknowledge that the ecosystem has become much more organised and transnational.“Previously, cybercrime involved isolated incidents with most of the players from India. But now it is becoming more organised, modernised and international. Fraudsters seem to be using new technologies and modernised tools and networks such as AI tools, mule accounts, SIM networks and digital platforms to exploit loopholes in our systems,” says Arvind Voleti, DCP Cybercrime, Hyderabad.Voleti says data leakage is a major concern and that enforcement of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act would strengthen accountability.For cybersecurity firms and law enforcement agencies, the lesson is clear: fraud can no longer be treated as scattered crimes investigated after victims lose money. It is now an industry with subscriptions, infrastructure, service desks, upgrades and global payment channels.“The question is not about being Digital India. We have to be a trusted Digital India, and that requires treating fraud as an industry to dismantle and not as a crime that just needs to be looked at,” Srinivas says.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorSwati BharadwajSwati Bharadwaj is a business journalist with 30 years of experience covering a host of sectors – right from technology, GCCs, talent, cybersecurity, pharma & biotech, aerospace & defence, BFSI, gems & jewellery to automotive, hospitality, infrastructure, retail, among others. She has worked with TOI and ET across multiple cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s $1.4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesFrom Chilla to Dosa: 7 high-protein desi breakfasts made with oats and paneerDaily weight loss pill available in UK pharmacies: Who can buy and how, how much they cost, how to take them, and more — all you need to knowQuote of the day by Neem Karoli Baba: “God will give you everything you need for your spiritual development. Hold on to nothing.”; What Maharaj ji advices on having faith in God and leaving attachment to material possessions5 most common cancers affecting men in India and the early symptoms that could save livesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heart123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderMumbai schools holidayMumbai-Pune expresswayTop TrendingOzempic ShaadiDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha

Vamsikrishna08 mins mins

So, you’ve been using AI to make office work a bit easier. Or perhaps you’re using it to help stick to your healthy-eating goals. But did you know that AI has also made it easy — frighteningly easy — to pull off all sorts of digital scams? The fraudsters were always there, and so were…

Read More
Jul 06, 2026, 10:38 IST

Jul 06, 2026, 10:38 IST

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Australia clinch seventh T20 World Cup title. (Pic credit: ICC) Australia reaffirmed their dominance in women’s cricket by lifting a record-extending seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday, prompting ICC chairman Jay Shah to hail the tournament as another milestone in the sport’s remarkable growth.After Australia defeated hosts England by seven wickets in…

Read More
Dasun Shanaka scripts MLC history with first-ever double hat-trick as Seattle Orcas stun Texas Super Kings

Dasun Shanaka scripts MLC history with first-ever double hat-trick as Seattle Orcas stun Texas Super Kings

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Dasun Shanaka getting congratulated by teammates (X-Seattle Orcas) Dasun Shanaka delivered one of the most remarkable finishes in Cognizant Major League Cricket history, claiming the tournament’s first-ever double hat-trick to help the Seattle Orcas defend a modest total and seal a thrilling nine-run victory over the Texas Super Kings. Defending just 121, the Orcas looked…

Read More
Arjun Rampal wishes Ranveer Singh on his birthday; shares BTS photos from ‘Dhurandhar’ sets: ‘To more fabulous memories’

Arjun Rampal wishes Ranveer Singh on his birthday; shares BTS photos from ‘Dhurandhar’ sets: ‘To more fabulous memories’

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Arjun Rampal marked ‘Dhurandhar’ co-star Ranveer Singh’s birthday with a heartfelt social media post. The actor lead the cheer brigade and extended his best wishes to the birthday boy as he turned 41 today.Taking to Instagram, Rampal posted candid moments featuring himself and Ranveer from the shoot, and offered fans a peek at their off-screen…

Read More
Khawaja Asif being mentally unstable is a “known fact”, sources told ANI NEW DELHI: India Sunday mounted a strong rebuttal to Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif after he questioned the international honour conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles, with government sources dismissing his remarks as uninformed and describing him as “mentally unstable”.The sharp response came after Asif cast doubts on the legitimacy of the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” Presidential Distinction awarded to Prime Minister Modi during his recent visit to Seychelles.Reacting to the remarks, government sources said Asif’s comments reflected ignorance and underscored the state of Pakistan’s political leadership.”That he could be entrusted with his current responsibility says much about today’s Pakistan. Clearly, he has no day job and passes time by making silly comments on matters of which he has little knowledge. Envy is always a bad motivation, particularly so from someone steeped in hate speech,” government sources told news agency ANI.The sources also described Khawaja Asif being mentally unstable as a “known fact”.Prime Minister Modi received Seychelles’ newly instituted “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” Presidential Distinction in recognition of his leadership in environmental conservation and his support for the aspirations of Small Island Developing States.He became the first recipient of the award after Seychelles revamped its national honours system. Accepting the honour, the Prime Minister thanked the people and government of Seychelles and dedicated the distinction to countries working together to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.The latest exchange comes against the backdrop of a series of international recognitions conferred on Prime Minister Modi for his initiatives on sustainability, climate action and environmental protection.Khawaja Asif has previously faced criticism over his public remarks from regional leaders as well. In November 2025, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration criticised the Pakistan minister after he reportedly threatened military action against Afghanistan.Noorullah Noori, the Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, described Asif as a “mentally ill” person at the time.Addressing a gathering, Noori said, “Your history against Bangladesh and India is clear. Our history against Russia, America and Britain is clear. You judge.”Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s .4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesFrom Chilla to Dosa: 7 high-protein desi breakfasts made with oats and paneerDaily weight loss pill available in UK pharmacies: Who can buy and how, how much they cost, how to take them, and more — all you need to knowQuote of the day by Neem Karoli Baba: “God will give you everything you need for your spiritual development. Hold on to nothing.”; What Maharaj ji advices on having faith in God and leaving attachment to material possessions5 most common cancers affecting men in India and the early symptoms that could save livesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heart123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderMumbai schools holidayMumbai-Pune expresswayTop TrendingOzempic ShaadiDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha

Khawaja Asif being mentally unstable is a “known fact”, sources told ANI NEW DELHI: India Sunday mounted a strong rebuttal to Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif after he questioned the international honour conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles, with government sources dismissing his remarks as uninformed and describing him as “mentally unstable”.The sharp response came after Asif cast doubts on the legitimacy of the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” Presidential Distinction awarded to Prime Minister Modi during his recent visit to Seychelles.Reacting to the remarks, government sources said Asif’s comments reflected ignorance and underscored the state of Pakistan’s political leadership.”That he could be entrusted with his current responsibility says much about today’s Pakistan. Clearly, he has no day job and passes time by making silly comments on matters of which he has little knowledge. Envy is always a bad motivation, particularly so from someone steeped in hate speech,” government sources told news agency ANI.The sources also described Khawaja Asif being mentally unstable as a “known fact”.Prime Minister Modi received Seychelles’ newly instituted “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” Presidential Distinction in recognition of his leadership in environmental conservation and his support for the aspirations of Small Island Developing States.He became the first recipient of the award after Seychelles revamped its national honours system. Accepting the honour, the Prime Minister thanked the people and government of Seychelles and dedicated the distinction to countries working together to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.The latest exchange comes against the backdrop of a series of international recognitions conferred on Prime Minister Modi for his initiatives on sustainability, climate action and environmental protection.Khawaja Asif has previously faced criticism over his public remarks from regional leaders as well. In November 2025, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration criticised the Pakistan minister after he reportedly threatened military action against Afghanistan.Noorullah Noori, the Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, described Asif as a “mentally ill” person at the time.Addressing a gathering, Noori said, “Your history against Bangladesh and India is clear. Our history against Russia, America and Britain is clear. You judge.”Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s $1.4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesFrom Chilla to Dosa: 7 high-protein desi breakfasts made with oats and paneerDaily weight loss pill available in UK pharmacies: Who can buy and how, how much they cost, how to take them, and more — all you need to knowQuote of the day by Neem Karoli Baba: “God will give you everything you need for your spiritual development. Hold on to nothing.”; What Maharaj ji advices on having faith in God and leaving attachment to material possessions5 most common cancers affecting men in India and the early symptoms that could save livesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heart123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderMumbai schools holidayMumbai-Pune expresswayTop TrendingOzempic ShaadiDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Khawaja Asif being mentally unstable is a “known fact”, sources told ANI NEW DELHI: India Sunday mounted a strong rebuttal to Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif after he questioned the international honour conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles, with government sources dismissing his remarks as uninformed and describing him as “mentally unstable”.The sharp…

Read More
Jul 06, 2026, 10:15 IST

Jul 06, 2026, 10:15 IST

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Prithvi Shaw with his fiancée Akriti Agarwal. (Pic credit: Akriti’s Instagram post) Social media influencer and actress Akriti Agarwal has once again sparked discussion online after sharing a cryptic Instagram Story reading, “Misunderstood by many!”, just days after a viral post allegedly hinting at betrayal triggered speculation about her relationship with Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw.The…

Read More
Mumbai floods, heavy rains, Pandemic: When B-town celebs namely Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and others stood by the public

Mumbai floods, heavy rains, Pandemic: When B-town celebs namely Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and others stood by the public

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Over the years, many Bollywood celebrities have come forward and given back to society in many ways (Instagram) Over the years, many Bollywood stars have given back to society and have used their wealth for good. From helping people in a crisis to donating money to charities and relief funds, many big names in the…

Read More
Gut-wrecking E. coli contamination in water bottles: Vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak reported in an Indian village; safety tips to follow when buying 20-litre drinking water cans

Gut-wrecking E. coli contamination in water bottles: Vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak reported in an Indian village; safety tips to follow when buying 20-litre drinking water cans

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

A cluster of vomiting and diarrhoea cases in Chikkatekahalli village has been traced to E.coli-contaminated water sold illegally in 20-litre cans, with district officials confirming the source was an unlicensed purification unit now sealed shut. What officials found The district administration in Chikkaballapur said the outbreak in Chikkatekahalli village, part of Shidlaghatta taluk, is suspected…

Read More
Jul 06, 2026, 10:08 IST

Jul 06, 2026, 10:08 IST

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Brazil’s Neymar (10) argues with Norway goalkeeper Oerjan Nyland (1) (AP/PTI) Neymar shared a heated exchange with Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland after converting a late penalty during Brazil’s 2-1 defeat in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, a moment that added extra drama to the five-time champions’ shock exit.Brazil’s hopes of lifting a sixth…

Read More
Mumbai University postpones July 6 exams as IMD alert, monsoon chaos bring city to a halt

Mumbai University postpones July 6 exams as IMD alert, monsoon chaos bring city to a halt

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

The University of Mumbai has deferred all undergraduate and postgraduate examinations scheduled for July 6, 2026, after relentless monsoon rains, severe waterlogging and transport disruptions crippled the city. Acting on the IMD’s weather advisory, the university prioritised student safety and said a revised examination timetable will be announced soon, with existing hall tickets remaining valid.Mumbai…

Read More