Fake e-KYC Video Call and Selfie Scam on WhatsApp

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

On WhatsApp the scammer can send images, voice notes, PDFs and APK files, and a friendly profile photo makes the first message feel safe. Fake e-KYC Video Call and Selfie Scam is one of the ways this shows up: A caller says a video KYC is needed to keep your account active, records your face and ID, then uses them for loans and accounts.

What fake e-kyc video call and selfie scam looks like on WhatsApp

• A message from an unknown number, often with a stock photo of a smiling person.
• A friend or relative asking for urgent money from a new number or a hacked account.
• A group invite promising returns, jobs or prizes.

The scammer starts with a call or WhatsApp message from a person claiming to work for a bank, wallet or lending app. They say your account is limited or a loan has been pre-approved and that a short video KYC will unlock it. They sound calm and helpful and use words from real processes, like liveness check and agent verification.

Red flags to check on the WhatsApp message

• You did not start the KYC and the call came to you.
• The caller sends a video link through chat.
• You are asked to read out an OTP during the video.
• You are told to install a screen sharing app.
• You are added to a group full of people praising profits.
• The sender moves you quickly to Telegram or to a second app.

What to do

1. End the call and do not join the link.
2. Start any KYC yourself from the lender's official app.
3. Do not show documents or read out codes to a caller.
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. If you shared documents, check your credit report for loans you do not recognise.
2. Call 1930 if any money has been taken.
3. Report to the real lender or bank through its official app or card number so they can flag the attempt.
4. File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with the call time and number.

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

Safeavio Sentinel can check a message or link you receive about a video KYC and show why it looks risky, such as urgency, an OTP request or fake authority. The phone scan lists installed apps and flags screen sharing style apps from outside a store. It cannot join or monitor your calls, and it cannot tell whether a caller is real. Use official apps and the number on your card instead.

Full guide: Fake e-KYC Video Call and Selfie Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: phone call, fake app.

Questions