Scam Intelligence Hub
Know your enemy. Understand how each scam works, the exact language they use, and how to protect yourself and your family.
Fake KYC Update Scam
Scammers impersonate your bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Paytm, PhonePe, etc.) and send urgent SMS/WhatsApp messages claiming your KYC is expired or your account will be blocked. They ask you to click a link and enter OTP, Aadhaar, or card details.
- ·Urgent language: "Your account will be blocked in 24 hours"
- ·Link to a fake website mimicking the real bank portal
- ·Asks for OTP, Aadhaar number, or debit card PIN
- ·Sender is a mobile number, not an official short code
- ·Grammar errors or unusual phrasing in the message
- ✓Banks NEVER ask for OTP, PIN, or Aadhaar via SMS links.
- ✓Visit the official bank app directly — never via a link in a message.
- ✓Call your bank's official helpline to verify any KYC request.
- ✓Check the URL carefully — real bank sites are .sbi.co.in, hdfcbank.com, etc.
UPI Collect Request Scam
Fraudsters send a UPI "collect" request (a payment request, not a send) pretending it is a refund, cashback, or prize. Victims accidentally approve the request, which actually deducts money from their account.
- ·Collect request from an unknown UPI ID
- ·Message says "approve to receive ₹500 cashback" — but it actually TAKES money
- ·WhatsApp or SMS with urgency: "Approve within 10 minutes"
- ·The sender claims to be from Amazon, Flipkart, PhonePe support
- ✓Refunds and cashbacks are CREDITED automatically — you never need to "approve" anything to receive money.
- ✓NEVER approve a UPI collect request from an unknown source.
- ✓Read the request amount carefully before approving anything.
- ✓If unsure, decline and call the company's official number.
Fake Job / Work From Home Scam
Scammers offer lucrative part-time jobs (data entry, video likes, ratings) with suspiciously high returns. They first pay a small amount to build trust, then ask for a "registration fee" or "task investment" — and disappear.
- ·Jobs promising ₹500–₹5000 per day for simple tasks
- ·WhatsApp/Telegram groups for "task completion"
- ·First few tasks pay out — then you're asked to invest
- ·No physical office, no verifiable company name
- ·Urgency: "Limited slots available today only"
- ✓No legitimate employer asks you to pay to start work.
- ✓Verify the company name on the MCA website (mca.gov.in).
- ✓Never share your bank account or UPI ID for "salary verification".
- ✓WhatsApp group jobs are almost always scams.
Lottery & Lucky Draw Scam
Messages claiming you've won a lottery, prize, or lucky draw you never entered. To claim the prize, you must pay a "processing fee" or "GST tax" upfront — which goes straight to the scammer. There is no prize.
- ·"You have been selected as our lucky winner"
- ·Prize amount seems unrealistic (₹25 lakh, car, iPhone)
- ·Must pay fees before receiving winnings
- ·Claims to be from KBC, Sony, Jio, or government lottery
- ·Urgency: "Claim expires in 24 hours"
- ✓No legitimate lottery asks you to pay fees to collect winnings.
- ✓KBC, Jio, and government bodies do NOT conduct draws via SMS.
- ✓Search the "lottery" name online — you will find scam reports.
- ✓Never share your bank details or pay anything upfront.
Digital Arrest Scam
Scammers impersonate CBI, ED, Narcotics Bureau, or Customs officers and call/video-call victims, claiming a parcel in their name contains drugs or illegal items. They "arrest" you virtually via video call and demand immediate payment to avoid jail.
- ·Video call from a person in police/CBI uniform
- ·Claims a parcel with your name/Aadhaar contains illegal items
- ·"Digital arrest" — they ask you to stay on call for hours
- ·Pressure to transfer money immediately to avoid arrest
- ·Asks you not to tell family or disconnect the call
- ✓"Digital arrest" does not exist in Indian law — it is 100% a scam.
- ✓Real police NEVER demand money via call to avoid arrest.
- ✓Hang up immediately. Tell your family.
- ✓No government agency will video call you for legal proceedings.
Fake Courier / Parcel Scam
Scammers send messages pretending to be FedEx, Blue Dart, DTDC, or India Post, claiming a package is held at customs and you must pay a small fee to release it. Clicking the link leads to a fake payment page that steals your card details.
- ·"Your parcel is held at customs. Pay ₹99 to release"
- ·Link to a fake courier website (fedex-india.com, bluedart-delivery.net etc)
- ·You have no pending deliveries
- ·Asks for card number, CVV, OTP on the payment page
- ✓Legitimate couriers never ask for fees via SMS links.
- ✓Track packages only on the official app/website.
- ✓Never enter card details on a website linked from an SMS.
- ✓Check the actual domain — real sites are fedex.com, bluedart.com, indiapost.gov.in.
Phishing Link Scam
Messages with shortened or disguised links (bit.ly, tinyurl, or fake domains) leading to phishing websites that mimic banks, government portals, or payment apps. Entering any credentials on these sites gives scammers full access.
- ·Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, goo.gl) in banking messages
- ·Domain looks like the real one but with slight changes: sbi-online.in, hdfcbankindia.com
- ·Asks for login credentials, OTP, or card details after clicking
- ·SSL warning in browser or address bar does not match the bank
- ✓Always type bank URLs directly in the browser — never click links.
- ✓Check the full URL before entering any credentials.
- ✓Install a browser with phishing protection (Chrome/Firefox).
- ✓Use ScamShield's Lookup tool to check suspicious URLs before clicking.
Account Takeover / SIM Swap
Scammers gather your personal info (name, Aadhaar, DOB) from social media or data leaks, then call your telecom operator pretending to be you and port or duplicate your SIM. Once they have your number, they reset all your UPI and bank OTPs.
- ·Sudden loss of mobile network for extended time
- ·Unknown OTP messages for your bank account
- ·Calls from telecom saying "SIM swap request received"
- ·Social media contacts asking about money requests "from you"
- ✓Enable SIM lock / PUK protection with your telecom provider.
- ✓Set a transaction limit on UPI apps.
- ✓Use MPIN + biometric on all banking apps.
- ✓Limit Aadhaar and DOB visibility on social media.
- ✓Call 1909 immediately if your SIM suddenly stops working.
Scam Patterns by Bank / App
Fraudsters tailor their messages to match specific banks. Know what to look for.
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Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930 · cybercrime.gov.in