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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS

KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WHILE USING BANK SERVICES

LATEST TRICKS PLAYED TO ROB THE INNOCENT

Dated 01.09.2025 : Scamsters are continuously evolving their tactics, and in India, they are employing increasingly sophisticated tricks to defraud people. Know the latest modus opperandi of the fraudsters and play safe while dealing with them .

Here are some of the latest and most prevalent scams to be aware of:

1. AI-Powered Scams and Deepfakes

Voice Cloning and Impersonation: Scammers use advanced AI to clone the voices of family members or friends. They will call victims, and with a seemingly genuine voice, claim a family member is in trouble—for example, arrested or in a medical emergency—and demand an urgent money transfer. The fear and urgency prevent the victim from verifying the story.
Deepfake Videos: Scammers are using deepfake videos of celebrities or public figures to promote fake investment schemes or products. They manipulate videos to show a trusted personality endorsing a fraudulent platform, which can mislead people into investing their money.

2. Digital Arrest and Impersonation Scams

Posing as Law Enforcement: Scammers impersonate police, CBI, or other government officials. They call victims, often on video calls, and show a fabricated police station or court background. They accuse the victim of a crime, such as money laundering or drug trafficking, and threaten them with “digital arrest.” They then pressure the victim to transfer money to a “safe” government account to avoid arrest or legal action.
Fake Courier Scams: A similar tactic involves scammers impersonating a courier company, like FedEx. They call and claim a package in the victim’s name has been seized by law enforcement for containing illegal goods. The call is then transferred to a person pretending to be a police officer, who uses threats and fabricated documents to coerce the victim into paying a large sum of money.

3. Investment and Part-time Job Scams

Fake High-Return Investments: Fraudsters lure people with promises of unusually high, guaranteed returns in a short period. They often create fake websites, apps, or social media groups to appear credible. To gain trust, they might allow the victim to withdraw a small amount of money initially. However, once a larger sum is invested, the scammers disappear with the money.
Task-Based Job Scams: Victims receive messages offering easy part-time jobs, such as liking social media posts, writing fake reviews, or watching videos for payment. Initially, they are paid a small amount to build trust. Then, the scammers introduce a “prepaid task” where the victim must invest money to earn a higher commission. The victim is encouraged to keep investing more, but they are never able to withdraw the funds.

4. Phishing and Smishing (SMS Phishing)

Fake KYC Updates: Scammers call or message pretending to be from banks or financial firms, claiming that the victim’s KYC (Know Your Customer) details need urgent updating. They trick the victim into sharing personal details, downloading malicious apps (like AnyDesk or TeamViewer), or clicking on suspicious links to gain access to their accounts.
Fake Delivery Notifications: People receive text messages or emails claiming there is an issue with a package delivery. The message contains a link that, when clicked, leads to a fake website designed to steal personal and financial information.

How to Protect Yourself

Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Calls/Messages: Never trust calls or messages that create a sense of panic or urgency, especially from unknown numbers. Legitimate authorities or banks will never threaten you with digital arrest or ask for personal details over the phone.
Verify Information Independently: If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from a bank or government agency, disconnect and call the official helpline number listed on their website or official documents. Do not use the number provided by the caller.
Never Share Sensitive Information: Do not share your banking details, OTPs, or passwords with anyone. No legitimate organization will ever ask for this information.
Avoid Suspicious Links and Apps: Do not click on links from unknown senders. Be cautious of messages with spelling errors or generic greetings. Never download any remote-access applications like AnyDesk on the advice of an unknown caller.
Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about the latest scam tactics and share this information with your family and friends, especially with elderly members who might be more vulnerable.

Instance of a scam: Senior Couple Commit Suicide

Victims of Cyberfrauds

Dated 30.03.2025 : Newspapers reported of an elderly couple who died by suicide after losing a significant amount of money to cybercriminals. Diyango Najarat (83) ended his life by slitting his throat, while his wife, Playviana Najarat (79), consumed poison. The couple reportedly left behind a suicide note, explaining their despair and fear after being threatened by fraudsters who posed as officials from the Delhi Crime Branch. The elderly couple died by suicide after they were defrauded of Rs 50 lakh by cybercriminals in Karnataka’s Belagavi district.

According to police sources, the fraudsters contacted the couple via video call, falsely accusing them of involvement in a criminal case. . The cybercriminals claimed that the couple’s mobile number and ID proof had been compromised and demanded Rs 5 lakh as a settlement fee. The couple, both retired and formerly employed at the Maharashtra Secretariat, paid the amount. However, the harassment did not end. The fraudsters continued to threaten and extort more money from them, leading to a total loss estimated to be over Rs 50 lakh.The couple, who neither had any children nor immediate family, did not inform anyone about the threats and extortion.

This tragic incident highlights the vulnerability of senior citizens to cyber fraud and the devastating emotional and financial consequences it can have . Even well educated citizens are not spared by the criminals . One has to be extremely careful .

In case if you are threatened by scamsters , Don’t panic . Please contact your local POLICE or 1930 and get their help . Spread the knowledge to friends and relatives to prevent such tragedies .

If you unfortunately become a victim of a Fraud ?

If you become a victim of a financial fraud in India, immediate and swift action is crucial to minimize your losses and increase the chances of getting your money back. Here are the steps you should take:

1. Act Immediately and Block All Channels

Call the National Cybercrime Helpline: The first and most critical step is to call the national helpline number 1930 immediately. This helpline is designed for financial cyber fraud and operates 24/7. The quicker you report, the higher the chance of freezing the fraudulent transaction.
Contact Your Bank/Wallet Provider: Immediately call your bank’s customer care or log into your banking app to block your debit/credit card or freeze your account. Inform them about the fraudulent transaction and request them to stop the payment. Provide them with all the transaction details, including the amount, date, time, and transaction ID.
Stop All Transactions: If the fraud involves your cards or bank account, ensure you stop all further transactions. This may involve disabling auto-debit features, canceling subscriptions, or blocking your cards entirely.
Change All Passwords: If you believe your personal information has been compromised (e.g., you clicked on a phishing link or downloaded a malicious app), immediately change the passwords for your banking, email, and other important accounts. Use strong, unique passwords.

2. Gather Evidence

While the incident is still fresh in your mind, collect all relevant information and evidence related to the fraud. This will be essential for your complaint and investigation.

Transaction Details: Note down the exact amount, date, and time of the fraudulent transaction. Save the transaction ID/UTR number.
Communication Records: Take screenshots of all fraudulent communications, including SMS messages, emails, WhatsApp chats, or social media conversations.
Caller Information: If the fraud was via a phone call, note down the caller’s number, the time of the call, and what was said.
Website/App Details: If a fake website or app was involved, note down its URL and take screenshots of it.

3. File a Complaint

Online Complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal: The Government of India’s National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, cybercrime.gov.in, is the official platform to report cyber fraud. You can file a complaint there with all the details and evidence you have collected. Upon submission, you will receive an acknowledgment number, which you should keep for future reference.
File an FIR at the Local Police Station: In addition to the online portal, it is highly recommended to file a First Information Report (FIR) at your nearest police station, especially if the amount is significant. While some police stations might redirect you to the cybercrime cell, filing an FIR is a crucial legal step.
Contact Your Bank’s Nodal Officer: If your bank is not providing a satisfactory response, you can escalate the matter to their nodal officer. If you are still not satisfied, you can file a complaint with the Banking Ombudsman.

4. Other Important Steps

Notify Other Financial Institutions: If you use the same compromised information (like a password or email) for other financial accounts, notify those institutions as well.
Be Wary of “Recovery” Scams: After becoming a victim, you may be targeted by “recovery” scammers who claim they can get your money back for an upfront fee. Do not fall for this. The only official channels for reporting and recovery are the ones mentioned above.
Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any further unauthorized transactions.

By following these steps promptly, you can significantly improve the chances of recovering your funds and help law enforcement authorities track down the culprits.

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