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

Loans & Credit

1 scams

Loans & Credit · Digital lending fraud
Fake / Suspicious Loan App Scam
A loan is offered through an app, SMS/social link or other channel that may not be tied to a legitimate regulated lender The objective is typically to steal money/data or expose the borrower to fraudulent lending/recovery practices.
Also called illegal loan app, instant loan 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 tell: no bank sends a KYC link over SMS or WhatsApp. Ever. Real KYC happens in the branch or inside the bank’s own app, which you open yourself.

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 tell: a job that pays you before you’ve done anything is not a job. And no real employer runs hiring on Telegram.

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 tell: no Indian police force, agency, or court arrests anyone over a video call, and none of them ever collect money into a personal bank account. "Don’t tell your family" is the confession - hang up right there.

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 tell: a UPI QR code can only ever send money out of your account. There is no such thing as scanning to receive. If you’re being paid, you do nothing at all.

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 tell: no legitimate company will ever ask you to install a remote-access app. Get helpline numbers from inside the company’s own app, never from a search result.

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 tell: never return money on a phone call. Tell them to raise it with their own bank, and let the two banks settle it. A real mis-transfer has a real bank process.

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 tell: a lender that wants your contact list is not underwriting a loan, it’s collecting hostages. Check the lender’s name against the RBI’s list of registered NBFCs before installing anything.

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.

The tell: guaranteed returns are illegal to promise in India. Check any advisor’s registration number on the SEBI site yourself - the number in the group bio is usually copied from a real firm.

Already sent money or shared something?

What to do now

How they actually get people.

Scam types

Fake / Suspicious Loan App Scam

The tactics

Already sent money or shared something?