Banking
Fake KYC update
An SMS or call says your bank account, SIM or wallet will be blocked unless you 'update KYC' through a link or app.
- Threat of account block today
- Link not on the bank's official domain
- Asks for OTP, PIN or card details
Known Indian scams
Common scam types, each backed by an official government or regulator warning. The checker uses this library to name the scam it spots. These are scam patterns, not lists of reported numbers.
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Impersonation
Electricity disconnection threat
A message says power will be cut tonight because the last bill wasn't updated, and gives a personal mobile number to call.
- 'Tonight 9:30 pm' style deadline
- Personal mobile number instead of the board's helpline
- Asks you to install a screen-sharing app
Impersonation
'Digital arrest' by fake police / CBI
Callers posing as police, CBI, ED, customs or TRAI say a parcel or SIM in your name is linked to a crime and keep you on video call until you pay.
- Video call from 'officers' in uniform
- Told not to tell family
- Asked to transfer money for 'verification'
Delivery & shopping
Courier / parcel held scam
A message or IVR call says a FedEx, DHL or India Post parcel is held and asks for a small fee or 'press 1' to talk to an agent.
- Small redelivery or customs fee
- Tracking link on an odd domain
- IVR asking to press a key
Payments
UPI 'receive money' collect request
A buyer or 'refund desk' sends a UPI collect request or QR and says entering your PIN will credit money to you.
- Told to enter PIN to receive money
- Collect request from a stranger
- Scan a QR to 'get' payment
Delivery & shopping
Marketplace 'army officer' buyer/seller
On OLX, Quikr or Facebook a buyer/seller claims to be an army or CRPF officer being transferred, and asks for advance payment or sends a QR 'to pay you'.
- Claims armed-forces posting or transfer
- Price far below market
- Insists on QR or advance transfer
Jobs & money
Part-time 'like & review' task job
A WhatsApp or Telegram message offers ₹2,000–5,000 a day for liking YouTube videos or rating hotels. Small payouts come first, then you're asked to 'invest' in prepaid tasks.
- Unsolicited job with no interview
- Telegram group of 'mentors'
- Must pay to unlock higher tasks
Investment
Stock / IPO tips investment group
Victims are added to WhatsApp 'stock tips' groups and told to trade on a fake app showing huge profits that can never be withdrawn.
- Guaranteed or very high returns
- App not registered with SEBI
- Withdrawal needs extra 'tax' or fee
Tech & apps
Instant loan app harassment
Unregistered loan apps give small loans with hidden fees, harvest your contacts and photos, then threaten and shame you to pay far more.
- Loan approved without checks
- App asks for contacts and gallery
- Not listed with an RBI-regulated lender
Tech & apps
Malicious APK over WhatsApp
A file named like a bank, RTO challan, PM scheme or wedding invite arrives as an .apk; installing it reads your SMS OTPs.
- App sent as a file, not from Play Store
- Asks for SMS or accessibility permission
- Named after a bank or govt service
Impersonation
Fake e-challan / traffic fine
An SMS says you have a pending traffic challan and links to a look-alike Parivahan site that steals card details.
- Link not on echallan.parivahan.gov.in
- Pay today or licence suspended
- Card details asked on an unknown site
Banking
Expiring reward points / credit card
An SMS says your SBI/HDFC reward points expire today and asks you to redeem them on a link that captures card and OTP.
- Points 'expire today'
- Shortened or non-bank link
- Asks for full card number, CVV and OTP
Impersonation
Fake government scheme / subsidy
Messages promise free laptops, PM Kisan money, free recharge or subsidies if you register on a link and pay a small fee.
- 'Free' offer from government via WhatsApp forward
- Registration fee
- Non-gov.in website
Jobs & money
Lottery / KBC prize
You're told you won a KBC, Jio or lucky-draw prize and must pay tax or processing fees first to receive it.
- Prize for a contest you never entered
- Pay a fee to receive winnings
- WhatsApp photo of a 'cheque'
Impersonation
Video-call sextortion
A stranger video-calls, records a morphed or compromising clip, then a fake 'police officer' or the caller demands money to delete it.
- Unknown video call late at night
- Threat to send video to contacts
- Follow-up from fake police
Tech & apps
SIM swap / eSIM upgrade
A caller from a 'telecom company' says your SIM will stop working unless you upgrade to 5G/eSIM, then takes over your number to receive bank OTPs.
- Asked to forward an SMS or share a code
- 5G/eSIM 'upgrade' call
- Phone suddenly loses network
Banking
Fake customer-care number
Search results or social media list a fake helpline for a bank, airline or food app; the 'agent' asks you to install a screen-sharing app or share an OTP for a refund.
- Number found on Google or social media, not the official app
- Refund needs you to send money
- Screen-sharing app requested
Investment
Online betting / Satta Matka sites
Gambling, Satta Matka and colour-prediction apps take deposits via UPI to personal accounts and block withdrawals once balances grow.
- Deposits to personal UPI IDs
- APK instead of Play Store app
- Withdrawal blocked or needs extra deposit
Investment
Crypto 'mining' or trading platform
A platform promises fixed daily returns from crypto mining or bots; early payouts come from new deposits until it vanishes.
- Fixed daily percentage returns
- Referral bonuses
- Only USDT deposits to a wallet address
Impersonation
Matrimonial / romance gift scam
A profile living 'abroad' builds trust, then says a gift is stuck at customs or they need money for an emergency.
- Never meets or video-calls properly
- Gift held at airport customs
- Money for sudden emergency
Banking
OTP sharing request
Someone asks you to read out or forward an OTP 'by mistake' sent to your phone; it is actually authorising a payment or account takeover.
- Anyone asking for an OTP
- 'Sent by mistake, please forward'
- Pressure to act quickly
Banking
Aadhaar-enabled payment (AePS) misuse
Fraudsters use leaked Aadhaar numbers and copied fingerprints to withdraw money through Aadhaar-enabled payment points without any OTP.
- Money withdrawn without an OTP
- You shared fingerprint or Aadhaar copy with an unknown agent
- Biometrics not locked on mAadhaar
Delivery & shopping
Fake rental / property listing
A cheap flat or PG listing asks for a 'token advance' or security deposit before any visit, often from someone claiming to be posted elsewhere.
- Deposit before seeing the property
- Owner can't meet in person
- Rent far below the area rate
Delivery & shopping
Fake hotel / pilgrimage booking
Look-alike websites and social media pages offer hotel, helicopter or guest-house bookings for places like Kedarnath or Somnath and vanish after payment.
- Booking only via WhatsApp or personal UPI
- Site not the official tourism or temple portal
- Big discount for immediate payment
Impersonation
Income tax refund message
An SMS says an income-tax refund is approved and asks you to 'verify' bank details on a link that is not incometax.gov.in.
- Refund link not on incometax.gov.in
- Asks for card or net-banking details
- Urgent 'claim today' wording
Impersonation
Fake RBI official / RBI prize money
Emails, letters or calls in the name of RBI or its Governor say you have won money or have funds waiting, and ask for a 'processing' or 'clearance' fee.
- RBI does not hold personal accounts or send prize money
- Fee demanded to release funds
- Letterhead or email not from rbi.org.in
Investment
Unauthorised forex trading platform
Apps and social-media ads offer forex or binary-options trading with high returns; RBI keeps an Alert List of such unauthorised entities.
- Forex trading via app or WhatsApp 'account manager'
- Deposits into personal or random UPI accounts
- Entity not an RBI-authorised dealer
Banking
Fake loan-waiver campaign
Ads or agents promise to get your bank loan 'waived' for a service fee; RBI has cautioned these entities have no authority to waive loans.
- Fee to get debt cancelled
- 'Debt relief certificate' offered
- Told to stop paying your bank
Tech & apps
Public USB charging (juice jacking)
Tampered USB charging points at airports, stations or cafes can install malware or copy data; RBI and CERT-In advise avoiding public USB ports.
- Unknown USB cable or kiosk
- Phone prompts to 'trust this device'
- Free charging station in a public place
Tech & apps
Call-forwarding code hijack (*401#)
A caller posing as your telecom operator asks you to dial a code like *401* followed by a number; this forwards your calls so they can grab WhatsApp and bank OTP calls.
- Asked to dial a code starting with * or #
- Caller claims to be Jio/Airtel/Vi support
- WhatsApp logs out soon after
Tech & apps
WhatsApp account takeover
A 'friend' or 'contest' asks you to share the 6-digit WhatsApp code you just received; they then take over your account and ask your contacts for money.
- Request for a WhatsApp verification code
- Friend suddenly needs urgent money
- Voting or contest link on WhatsApp
Tech & apps
Fake browser / app update
Pop-ups or messages say your browser, WhatsApp or antivirus is outdated and push a download that installs malware or ransomware.
- Update offered by a website, not the app store
- 'Your phone is infected' alert
- File ends in .apk, .exe or .zip
Payments
QR code phishing on posters or bills
Stickers over genuine QR codes, or QR codes in emails and parking notices, lead to fake payment or login pages.
- QR sticker pasted over another
- QR opens a login page, not a payment
- QR received in an unexpected email
Jobs & money
Fake government job / appointment letter
Messages or sites offer railway, postal or ministry jobs without an exam and ask for a registration or 'security' fee; PIB Fact Check regularly flags these.
- Government job without an official exam
- Fee for appointment letter or training
- Site not on a gov.in or nic.in domain
Banking
Fake PM Mudra / govt loan approval
Letters in the name of a ministry say a Mudra or government loan is approved and ask for a stamp-duty or processing charge first.
- Loan 'approved' without applying
- Advance processing or stamp fee
- Ministry letterhead sent over WhatsApp
Delivery & shopping
India Post / brand anniversary giveaway
Viral links claim India Post, a bank or a big brand is giving subsidies or gifts for an anniversary quiz; they collect personal data and spread by forwarding.
- Quiz with a 'spin to win' wheel
- Asked to forward to 5 groups
- Anniversary offer on a non-official domain