Scam guides for India
Every guide covers how a scam works, a realistic example, the red flags, what to do now and what to do if money is gone.
Payment and UPI fraud
26 guides · see all
UPI Collect Request ScamA stranger sends a UPI collect request and says you must approve it to receive money.…UPI Refund Wrong PIN ScamAfter an order cancellation or failed payment you are told a refund needs your UPI PIN…Fake Payment Screenshot ScamA buyer sends an edited screenshot showing a successful UPI payment that never reached…Scan QR to Receive Money ScamA buyer asks you to scan a QR code or enter a PIN to receive an advance. A QR code only…Fake Payment Credited SMS ScamA bogus SMS or message says money was credited to you, then a stranger asks you to…Fake UPI App Flash Pay ScamA shopkeeper or seller is shown a 'payment successful' screen from a copy of a UPI app…
Bank and card fraud
31 guides · see all
SIM Swap Bank FraudFraudsters get a duplicate SIM issued for your number, receive your bank OTPs and drain…Net Banking Phishing Site ScamA link in an SMS or email opens a copy of your bank's login page that steals your user…Bank KYC Update SMS ScamAn SMS says your bank KYC has expired and your account will be blocked today. The link…PAN Update Bank Account Block ScamA message says your PAN must be updated or your bank account and card will be blocked.…Credit Limit Increase Call ScamA caller offers to raise your credit card limit and asks for an OTP or card details. The…EMI and Loan Waiver Call ScamA caller promises to waive your EMI, interest or part of your loan if you pay a fee or…
Identity and KYC scams
11 guides · see all
KYC Update SMS Link ScamA text says your KYC has expired and your account will be blocked today. The link opens…Aadhaar Update Fake Portal ScamFake Aadhaar update and download websites rank in search results, charge a 'service fee'…PAN Card Blocked SMS ScamA text claims your PAN will be blocked unless you update it now. The link is a fake form…Aadhaar Fingerprint Cloning ScamFraudsters use leaked fingerprints and Aadhaar numbers to withdraw money through…DigiLocker Document Phishing ScamMessages say your DigiLocker documents are expiring or need verification. The login page…Voter ID Update WhatsApp ScamA WhatsApp forward offers a quick voter ID or voter list update. The file or link…
Fake government and police scams
19 guides · see all
Digital Arrest Video Call ScamCallers in uniform say you are under digital arrest on a video call and must send money…Fake CBI or Customs Officer Parcel CallAn automated call says a parcel in your name was seized with illegal items, then a fake…Courier Delivery Fee and Redelivery Link ScamA text says a parcel could not be delivered and asks for a small redelivery fee or…Income Tax Refund Fake Link ScamA message says an income tax refund is approved and asks you to confirm your bank…EPFO PF Withdrawal and Pension ScamCallers offer to speed up your PF claim or release a stuck pension for a fee, and ask…Electricity Disconnection Tonight SMS ScamA text says power will be cut tonight because the last bill was not updated, and asks…
Telecom and SIM scams
10 guides · see all
TRAI SIM Block in 24 Hours Call ScamA call claims to be the telecom regulator and says your SIM will be blocked in two hours…Mobile Number Deactivation KYC Text ScamA text says your SIM will be deactivated unless you update KYC today and asks you to…SIM Swap and Duplicate SIM FraudFraudsters get a duplicate SIM for your number, take your OTPs and empty accounts.…5G SIM Upgrade Link ScamA message offers a free 5G SIM or network upgrade through a link or app. It installs…Call Forwarding Code ScamA caller asks you to dial a special code on your phone for a delivery or a refund. It…Recharge Cashback and Free Data Offer ScamMessages promise free recharge, bonus data or cashback on your next top-up through a…
Job and easy-money scams
18 guides · see all
Part-Time Like and Rate Task Job ScamA WhatsApp message offers Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 a day for liking videos or rating products.…Prepaid Task Telegram Group ScamA Telegram group has you 'buy' items and promises the money back with commission. The…Work From Home Data Entry Registration Fee ScamData entry and form filling jobs promise monthly pay but first ask for a registration,…Loan App Harassment and Morphed Photo ScamIllegal instant loan apps take contact and photo access, then send threats and morphed…Advance Fee Loan Approval ScamA loan is approved without checks, but you must first pay processing, insurance or GST.…Fake Offer Letter and Joining Fee ScamA fake offer letter from a known company asks for a joining, laptop or training deposit.…
Investment and trading scams
13 guides · see all
WhatsApp Stock Tips Group ScamA free WhatsApp group shares stock tips that seem to win, then pushes a paid VIP plan or…IPO Allotment Guarantee and Fake Trading App ScamGroups promise guaranteed IPO allotment or pre-IPO shares at a big discount through a…Fake Trading App Withdrawal Fee and Tax ScamA trading app shows large profits but asks for tax, a deposit or an unlock fee before…Crypto Doubling and Telegram Signal ScamTelegram groups and apps promise to double your crypto or pay daily USDT returns. Early…Chit Fund and Deposit Scheme Collapse ScamLocal schemes collect deposits for high monthly interest or chit returns, then close or…MLM Network Marketing Recruitment ScamA pitch promises big income from a joining kit and from recruiting others. Income comes…
Shopping and delivery scams
22 guides · see all
Fake Online Store Advertised on Instagram and FacebookA slick shop with huge discounts appears in your feed, takes your UPI or card payment…Instagram Boutique Seller Asking for Advance PaymentA small Instagram page sells sarees, jewellery or gadgets by DM, takes an advance by UPI…Cash on Delivery Parcel Swap and Wrong-Product TrickA delivery person asks for cash for a parcel you never ordered, or a package contains a…OLX Buyer Sends a QR Code to Receive PaymentA buyer on OLX or Facebook Marketplace says 'scan this QR to get paid' and your account…Army Officer Selling Goods on a MarketplaceA seller in an army or police uniform lists a cheap bike or car 'due to transfer' and…Fake Product Review and Rating Task ScamYou are paid a few rupees to rate products, then asked to deposit money for bigger tasks…
Tech-support and remote-access scams
8 guides · see all
Remote Access App Bank Refund TrickA caller offers a refund and asks you to install a remote-access app. Once he sees your…Screen Share Support Trick Posing as a Utility or Telecom HelpdeskA fake telecom or utility helpdesk asks you to open a screen-sharing app to 'fix' your…Fake Antivirus Pop-up Telling You to Call SupportA browser page flashes a loud virus warning with a helpline number or an 'install…Fake Broadband Technician and Router Support CallA caller from your 'internet provider' says your router needs a verification payment or…Fake Laptop and Printer Support HelplineSearching for laptop or printer help brings up a fake service number. The agent charges…Fake Windows Security Alert and Locked Browser PageA full-screen 'Windows security alert' locks your browser and shows a helpline. The page…
Social media scams
8 guides · see all
WhatsApp Account Takeover Through a Shared Verification CodeA stranger or contact asks for the six-digit WhatsApp code you just received. It lets…Wrong Number Message That Turns Into a FriendshipA polite 'sorry, wrong number' message slowly becomes a friendship, then an investment…Hacked Friend's Account Asking for Urgent MoneyA message from a friend's hacked or cloned profile asks for urgent UPI money. Learn how…Fake Lottery and KBC Prize MessageYou are told you won a huge lottery or a quiz-show prize and must pay a tax or…Sextortion Through a Video Call RecordingA friendly stranger starts a video call, a recording is made and you are threatened with…Morphed Photo Blackmail from a StrangerA stranger sends an edited explicit picture using your public photo and demands money.…
Romance and sextortion scams
4 guides · see all
Matrimonial Site NRI Match Sending a Gift ParcelA matrimonial match abroad promises a gift or marriage, then asks for customs fees or a…Dating App Match Who Introduces a Trading PlatformA dating app match builds romance, then recommends a trading or crypto app. Deposits…Overseas Doctor or Soldier Profile Asking for HelpAn online partner who claims to be a doctor or peacekeeper abroad says he is stuck and…Relationship-to-Investment Chat Scam (Pig Butchering)A friendly stranger builds trust over weeks, then introduces a 'sure' investment…
AI voice and deepfake fraud
4 guides · see all
AI Voice Clone Call from a Relative in TroubleA call in the voice of your son, daughter or grandchild says there is an accident or…Deepfake Video Call from a Boss or Colleague Asking for a TransferA video call shows your manager or a senior colleague asking for an urgent payment. The…Deepfake Celebrity or Finance Expert Video Promoting an InvestmentA video shows a famous person praising a trading app or scheme. The clip is edited or…AI Chatbot Fake Profile That Chats for WeeksA friendly profile replies instantly at all hours, with perfect grammar, and slowly…
Fake apps, malware and device risks
16 guides · see all
Wedding Invitation APK Shared on WhatsAppA WhatsApp message with a file named like a wedding card ends in .apk. Installing it can…Fake RTO Challan or Vehicle App Sent as an APKA message says you have a pending traffic challan and asks you to install an app file to…Instant Loan App That Steals Contacts and Threatens YouA quick-loan app asks for contacts and gallery access, then threatens to message your…Stalkerware Spy App Hidden on a PhoneA hidden spy app can show messages, location and calls to someone who installed it.…Malicious QR Codes Stuck in Public PlacesA QR sticker on a parking meter, restaurant table or poster leads to a fake payment page…Shop Counter QR Sticker Swap Targeting Small MerchantsScammers paste their own payment QR over a shop's real code so customers pay the wrong…
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.