Annual Fee and Bank Charges Refund Scam on WhatsApp

How it looks on WhatsApp, the red flags and what to do.

WhatsApp scams arrive from numbers you do not know, from a friend whose account was taken over, or from a group you were added to without asking. Annual Fee and Bank Charges Refund Scam is one of the ways this shows up: A caller says the bank charged you extra fees and will refund them if you share an OTP or open a link. The refund request is a payment out.

What annual fee and bank charges refund scam looks like on WhatsApp

• A PDF, APK or image that must be opened to "see the details".
• A link that pretends to be a wa.me, courier or bank page.
• A message from an unknown number, often with a stock photo of a smiling person.

The scammer picks a believable small amount, such as Rs 2,359 for an annual fee or GST, and says that it was charged wrongly. They know that people feel annoyed about bank charges, so a refund seems a pleasant surprise. They use the name of your bank and say that it is part of a service campaign or an RBI directive.

Red flags to check on the WhatsApp message

• A caller offers a refund of fees you did not know about.
• You are asked to approve a request or read out a code to receive it.
• The refund must be done today or will be lost.
• A link or support app is used for the refund.
• Someone asks for the six-digit code WhatsApp sent you by SMS.
• A new number says it is someone you know and asks for money; call the real person on the old number first.

What to do

1. End the call and do not approve any request.
2. Check your statement in the bank's official app for the fee.
3. Contact the bank on the number on your card if the fee looks wrong.
4. If it was a "friend", call them on the number you already have and ask.
5. Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp settings so a stolen SMS code is not enough.
6. Warn the group or family, and report the number on Sanchar Saathi if it is a scam call or message.

Inside WhatsApp use Block and report; for numbers that call or text you, the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) also takes complaints.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 immediately and give the transaction details.
2. Tell your bank on the number on your card or passbook and ask them to block further payments.
3. Uninstall any support app and change banking passwords.
4. Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in with the call log and screenshots.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio's Money Shield includes the reminder that you never need a PIN or OTP to receive money, which is the heart of this scam. The scam check can review follow-up messages and links that you paste and show why they look risky. It cannot see your bank's fees, so check your statement in the official app. Check your statement. Use your bank app.

Full guide: Annual Fee and Bank Charges Refund Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: phone call, SMS, email.

Questions