Top 12 Online Scams in India
Digital fraud in India is growing rapidly — especially through UPI, WhatsApp, SMS, and social media. Learn how each scam works and how our AI helps you stay safe.
UPI & QR Code Scams
A fraudster sends a "Request Money" notification and tells you to approve it to receive funds. Approving actually sends money from your account. QR codes are also used — scanning one always initiates a PAYMENT, never a receipt.
Red Flags
- Asked to approve a collect request to 'receive' money
- "Scan to receive money" or refund claims
- Urgent language like "Approve quickly"
What to do
- Decline unknown collect requests — refunds come directly
- Never scan QR codes to 'receive' money
- Never share your UPI PIN with anyone
How Our AI Helps
We detect deceptive payment requests, urgency manipulation, and known UPI scam patterns before you authorize the transaction.
Phishing Links (SMS / WhatsApp / Email)
You receive a link claiming to be from a bank, courier, or government body asking you to verify details or make a payment. The link leads to a fake page that steals your credentials.
Red Flags
- Suspicious or shortened URLs
- Account suspension or KYC expiry threats
- Requests for OTP, PIN, or card details
What to do
- Don't click links from unknown senders
- Don't enter passwords or OTPs on pages from SMS links
- Don't trust 'account blocked' messages
How Our AI Helps
We analyze message language, link structure, impersonation signals, and known phishing tactics to flag threats.
Fake Investment & Trading Scams
You are added to a WhatsApp or Telegram group promising guaranteed profits from crypto, stocks, or IPO tips. Initial small returns lure you into investing larger amounts that you never get back.
Red Flags
- Guaranteed returns with no risk
- WhatsApp/Telegram trading groups
- Pressure to invest immediately
- Fake testimonials and profit screenshots
What to do
- Don't invest in 'guaranteed returns'
- Don't send money to strangers via trading groups
- Don't trust profit screenshots — they're fabricated
How Our AI Helps
We detect high-return fraud signals and suspicious financial persuasion patterns common in Ponzi and investment scams.
Digital Arrest / Govt Impersonation
Fraudsters pretend to be police, CBI, ED, or customs officials and claim you are involved in a crime. They demand immediate payment via video call or message to avoid arrest.
Red Flags
- Threats of legal action or arrest
- Video calls from fake 'police' setups
- Requests to transfer money for 'verification'
- Claims of 'digital arrest'
What to do
- Don't transfer money to avoid 'arrest' — no real authority does this
- Always verify by calling the official number yourself
- Don't trust video calls showing police uniforms
How Our AI Helps
We identify authority impersonation patterns, fear-based manipulation tactics, and known digital arrest scam templates.
Fake Job Offer Scams
You receive a job offer without proper interview and are asked to pay registration, training, or verification fees. Some scams redirect to Telegram for paid 'tasks' that escalate into large losses.
Red Flags
- Job confirmation without interview
- Upfront fee required
- 'Work from home' via Telegram
- Unrealistic salary promises
What to do
- Don't pay money to get a job — legitimate employers never charge
- Don't do 'paid tasks' to unlock salary
- Don't trust jobs offered via Telegram or WhatsApp only
How Our AI Helps
We identify employment-related fraud signals and common fee-based job scam structures used in India.
Remote Access / Tech Support Scams
Scammers ask you to install apps like AnyDesk or TeamViewer to 'fix a problem' or 'process a refund'. They then access your banking or UPI apps and drain your account.
Red Flags
- Request to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or QuickSupport
- Caller claims to be bank support
- Urgent technical problem claims
- Asks you to open your banking app during the call
What to do
- Never install remote access apps at someone's request
- Don't trust callers claiming to be bank or company support
- If you installed one, uninstall and change all passwords immediately
How Our AI Helps
We flag remote control exploitation patterns and warn against unsafe app installation requests.
Social Media & Messaging Scams
Scammers use WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram to spread phishing links, fake giveaways, 'share to earn' schemes, or hijack accounts by asking for OTPs from contacts.
Red Flags
- Friend asking for OTP out of nowhere
- 'Share to earn' promises
- Links to claim prizes or coupons
- Messages from recently created accounts
What to do
- Never share OTP with friends — their account may be hacked
- Don't click 'giveaway' or 'coupon' links shared in groups
- Report and block suspicious messages
How Our AI Helps
We detect social engineering patterns, OTP theft attempts, and known social media scam templates.
Online Marketplace Scams (OLX / Facebook / Instagram)
Fake buyers or sellers on OLX, Facebook Marketplace, or Instagram trick victims into paying advance fees, sharing UPI details, or accepting fake payment screenshots.
Red Flags
- Fake payment screenshots
- Requests for small 'processing fees'
- Deals too good to be true
- Seller refuses to meet in person
What to do
- Don't pay in advance for products from unknown sellers
- Don't trust payment screenshots — verify in your bank app
- Meet in person for high-value transactions
How Our AI Helps
We detect payment deception tactics and fake transaction manipulation patterns used in marketplace fraud.
SIM Swap & OTP Hijack Scams
Fraudsters trick telecom providers to issue a duplicate SIM and gain access to your OTPs and banking accounts. They may also call pretending to be bank officials asking for OTP directly.
Red Flags
- Sudden loss of mobile network
- Unknown SIM replacement alerts
- OTP requests you didn't initiate
- Callers asking for OTP to 'cancel a transaction'
What to do
- NEVER share OTP — not even with bank staff calling you
- If your SIM stops working, contact your telecom provider immediately
- Don't share screen during banking calls
How Our AI Helps
We flag account takeover signals, OTP theft patterns, and guide you on immediate protection steps.
Fake Billing & Utility Payment Scams
You receive messages claiming your electricity, gas, or telecom service will be disconnected unless you pay immediately via a link or number provided.
Red Flags
- Short deadlines ("pay within 2 hours")
- Threat of immediate disconnection
- Suspicious payment links
- Unfamiliar sender numbers
What to do
- Don't pay via links in SMS — use official apps only
- Don't call numbers from SMS — look up official helplines
- Verify bills directly on the utility provider's website
How Our AI Helps
We detect impersonation attempts and urgency-based billing fraud targeting utility customers.
Predatory Loan App Scams
Instant loan apps lure you with quick approvals but charge exorbitant interest. If you can't repay, they access your contacts and photos to blackmail and harass you and your family.
Red Flags
- App requests access to contacts, gallery, and SMS
- No RBI registration number shown
- Extremely easy approval with no credit check
- Threatening calls to contacts if you miss a payment
What to do
- Only use RBI-registered loan apps
- Don't grant contact or gallery access to loan apps
- Report harassment to cybercrime.gov.in immediately
How Our AI Helps
We detect predatory lending patterns, unauthorized data access requests, and known illegal loan app tactics.
Lottery / Prize Scams
Messages claiming you won a lottery, cashback, or gift card you never entered, asking for processing fees or bank details to release the prize money.
Red Flags
- Won without entering
- Processing fee required
- Urgency to claim before deadline
- Official-looking fake documents
What to do
- Don't pay fees to claim a prize
- Don't share bank details for prize money
- You can't win a lottery you didn't enter
How Our AI Helps
We identify lottery and prize fraud patterns including fake claims, fee extraction tactics, and urgency manipulation.
We protect against 12+ common fraud types in India