How they actually get people.
Every one of these is running in India right now. The script barely changes - which is exactly why it is catchable.
Scam types
Banking & Payments
- All scams
- Account Takeover & Identity10
- Advance Fee & Prize5
- Banking & Payments16
- Business & Corporate6
- Crypto2
- Device & Malware6
- Extortion2
- Government & Authority Impersonation13
- Investment & Trading12
- Jobs & Earnings6
- Loans & Credit1
- Relationship & Social3
- Shopping & Services8
- Tax, Insurance & Benefits4
- UPI & QR7
16 scams
Banking & Payments · SMS phishing
Payment / Banking Smishing Scam
A text message pretends to be from a trusted service and contains a malicious or deceptive call to action The objective is typically to steal credentials, install malware or cause unauthorized payment.
Also called SMS phishing, text-message scam
Banking & Payments · Remote-access social engineering
Screen-Sharing / Remote-Access Payment Scam
An unknown person asks the victim to install or use a screen-sharing or SMS-forwarding app The objective is typically to expose OTPs, credentials or transaction details and enable unauthorized payments.
Also called AnyDesk scam, remote support fraud, screen share scam
Banking & Payments · Mobile identity attack
SIM Cloning / Mobile Identity Fraud
A victim's mobile identity or SIM-linked access is compromised as part of a payment-fraud chain The objective is typically to enable unauthorized account access and payments.
Also called SIM clone fraud, mobile identity theft
Banking & Payments · Mobile-number takeover
SIM Swap Fraud
Fraudsters cause a victim's mobile number to be moved to another SIM or otherwise take over the number The objective is typically to bypass SMS-based authentication and carry out unauthorized financial transactions.
Also called SIM hijack, SIM takeover
The tactics
Eight scripts that account for most of what lands on Indian phones.
The one that empties accounts fastestKYC / PAN / Aadhaar "expiry"
An SMS or WhatsApp from "your bank" says your KYC has expired and the account will be frozen within 24 hours. A link takes you to a page that looks exactly right, and asks for your card number, then the OTP.
The one that starts with ₹150 creditedPart-time task job
A WhatsApp message from an unknown international number offers ₹2,000-5,000 a day for liking YouTube videos or rating hotels. You’re moved to Telegram. The first three tasks pay real money into your account. Then comes the "prepaid task" - deposit ₹10,000 to unlock a bigger commission. Every deposit needs one more deposit to withdraw.
The one people are too embarrassed to reportDigital arrest
A call claiming to be CBI, Customs, or the Narcotics Bureau: a parcel in your name contained drugs, or your Aadhaar was used for money laundering. They move you to a video call with a fake police backdrop and keep you on it for hours, telling you not to contact anyone. Then they demand a "verification deposit" to a bank account.
The one that reverses the direction of moneyQR code "to receive"
You’re selling something on OLX or Facebook Marketplace. The "buyer" sends a QR code and says scan it to receive the payment. Sometimes they even send a small amount first to build trust.
The one that uses your own screen against youFake customer care + screen share
You Google a helpline number for a refund and land on a paid ad or an SEO’d fake page. The "agent" is helpful, then asks you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or Quick Support so they can "process the refund faster". Once installed, they watch you type your PIN.
The one that looks like a favourWrong transfer / refund reversal
Money arrives in your account. A stranger calls, distressed, saying they transferred it by mistake and please send it back. The incoming money is often from a stolen account or a credit that will be reversed - you end up paying twice.
The one that ends in blackmailInstant loan apps
A loan approved in four minutes with no paperwork - but the app demands access to your contacts and photo gallery. Repayment terms turn out to be brutal, and when you fall behind, they message everyone in your contacts and send morphed photos.
The one dressed up as financial literacyWhatsApp trading group
You’re added to a group with a "SEBI-registered" analyst and hundreds of members posting screenshots of profits. The calls are free and seem accurate. Then comes an invitation to a private app with a special IPO allotment or block deal. The app shows your money growing. It just can’t be withdrawn.