Fake Broadband Technician and Router Support Call
A caller from your 'internet provider' says your router needs a verification payment or app. It is a fake support call aimed at your UPI and card.
Your home internet slows down for a day, and a call arrives from someone claiming to be from your broadband company. He knows your area and the name of the plan, and says your connection needs a free router upgrade or an urgent KYC update. He offers to fix it quickly if you install an app or make a small payment. The goal is not your router, but your phone and bank account.
How the scam works
The scammer uses general facts such as the provider's name and city, bought from lists of subscribers or simply guessed. Many households use only a few big providers, so the guess is often right. He calls during a patch of slow internet, claiming that he saw the problem on his system. The timing and the polite tone make the story easy to accept.
The pressure comes from a consequence. He says your connection will be disabled if KYC is not updated, or that a new router must be booked with a refundable deposit. He sends a link or a payment request and asks you to approve it on your UPI app. For technical fixes he might ask you to install a support app and read out a code, which gives him view or control of your phone.
The payoff is the 'deposit', which is often Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 and never returns, or full access to your payment apps. He may also collect your Aadhaar-style ID photos under the name of KYC, which can later be used for other fraud. Real broadband technicians visit with a work order and rarely ask for payment over the phone.
An example of what you may see
Example call (invented): 'Good afternoon sir, I am calling from your broadband service. Your fibre box needs a free upgrade, but a refundable deposit of Rs 1,500 is required. I am sending a payment request. Please approve it, and I will also send a KYC form on WhatsApp to complete the process today, otherwise your connection will be suspended at night.' He sounds friendly and says the whole process will take only five minutes.
This example is written for illustration. Real messages change their wording, names and links all the time.
Red flags
- A caller offers a free upgrade but needs a deposit or small payment first.
- You are asked to approve a UPI collect request to 'receive' a refund or equipment.
- A KYC form or ID photos are requested over WhatsApp.
- The caller wants you to install a support app and read out a code.
- Disconnection is threatened by tonight if you do not act.
- The caller's number or app does not match the provider's official channels.
What to do right now
- Hang up and contact the provider through its official app or the number on your bill.
- Do not approve any collect request or scan any code during the call.
- Do not send ID documents over chat to an unknown caller.
- Ask the provider whether a technician visit or upgrade was scheduled.
- Report the number in Sanchar Saathi under Chakshu.
If you already paid or shared a code
- Call 1930 and report at cybercrime.gov.in with the payment details.
- Tell your bank through its official app and the number on your card.
- If you shared ID photos, tell the provider and keep a close watch on messages and new loans or SIM requests.
- Change your Wi-Fi password and your payment app PIN.
National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930. Report online at cybercrime.gov.in. Do it fast: the sooner your bank is told, the better the chance that money can be held.
Where this scam shows up
Read how it looks on each channel:
How Safeavio helps
Paste any message or script into Scam check in Safeavio Sentinel to see the reasons it looks risky, such as a deposit demand and fake authority. Money Shield reminds you that a collect request needs a PIN only to pay, so approving it never helps you receive anything. Network tools in Safeavio include a Wi-Fi safety check, but they cannot tell you whether a technician is genuine and cannot block calls.
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.
Questions people ask
Would my broadband company ask for a deposit by phone?
Terms differ, but a surprise call that asks you to approve a payment request is a warning sign. Check the offer in the provider's own app or bill, or call the number printed there. If a provider does offer a refundable deposit, you can see it in its app.
Why do they ask for KYC documents?
ID photos can be used for fake accounts, SIM cards or loans. Share documents only through the official app or at the company's own outlet, never over chat to a caller. A call that asks for them is not safe. Visit a store or the official app if a document is truly needed.
Could the slow internet be caused by the scammer?
Usually not. The call is timed to match a normal slow patch or sent to many numbers. Check the problem by restarting the router and contacting the provider yourself. If you are unsure, call your provider using the number printed on your bill and ask.