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
Jobs & Earnings
- 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
6 scams
Jobs & Earnings · Task-job fraud
Fake CAPTCHA-Filling Job Scam
Online posts/messages advertise high-paying CAPTCHA-filling work with minimal effort The objective is typically to collect fees/data and withhold purported earnings.
Also called captcha filling fraud, captcha job scam
Jobs & Earnings · SMS recruitment fraud
Fake Job Offer SMS Scam
An unsolicited SMS advertises an easy or attractive job opportunity The objective is typically to steal money/data or funnel the victim into another cyber-fraud scheme.
Also called job SMS scam, work from home SMS
Jobs & Earnings · Recruitment fraud
Fake Job Racket
A fraudulent recruiter or network offers jobs that do not exist or misrepresents the work/location/employer The objective is typically to take money/data or expose the victim to exploitation through a fake recruitment process.
Also called fake placement, recruitment scam
Jobs & Earnings · Money-mule recruitment
Money-Transfer Job / Account Rental Scam
A 'job' or side-income offer pays the victim to receive and forward money using their own account The objective is typically to turn the victim's account into a conduit for fraud proceeds and create financial/legal exposure.
Also called account rental job, payment processing job
Jobs & Earnings · Task/recharge fraud
Part-Time Task / Ponzi Job Scam
A website/app/group offers part-time earnings for simple tasks and may initially show or pay small returns The objective is typically to trap the victim in escalating deposits and withhold the supposed balance.
Also called part time scam, recharge scam, review job scam, task scam
Jobs & Earnings · Advance-fee recruitment
Recruitment Advance-Fee Scam
An unsolicited recruiter offers a job and makes payment a condition of moving forward The objective is typically to collect advance fees and personal data for a job that does not materialize.
Also called job fee scam, placement fee scam
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.