Staying safe from online fraud in Puducherry
Scams to recognise, where to report and how to protect your phone in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and across Puducherry.
Puducherry is a union territory of India with Puducherry as its capital and large cities such as Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam. People there use phones in Tamil, French, Malayalam, Telugu, and fraud reaches them the same way it reaches the rest of India: through SMS, WhatsApp, calls, fake apps and QR codes.
What people in Puducherry should watch for
The scams below are reported across India, so they can reach anyone in Puducherry, from Puducherry to a small town. We list them to help you recognise them, not to claim how often they happen in your district.
Messages in Tamil
Scammers copy the language and tone of local banks, courier staff and government offices. A message in Tamil with a familiar logo is still just text: check the link, never share an OTP, and verify through the official app.
If something goes wrong in Puducherry
- Call 1930 right away and tell your bank which account and transaction.
- Report at cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots, the number and the transaction details.
- Visit or call your local police station or cyber cell in Puducherry or your district if you need a copy of the complaint.
- Change passwords from a clean phone, turn on two-step verification and review linked devices in WhatsApp.
- Tell family: scammers often try the same trick on relatives.
Protect your phone
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app that checks messages, links and QR codes, reviews risky apps and settings, and gives families SOS, location sharing and private chat. It helps you spot scams; it cannot promise to stop every one.
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
Where do I report online fraud in Puducherry?
Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 as soon as money is lost and report at cybercrime.gov.in. The portal also lets you choose your state, and your local police station or cyber cell can take a complaint in Puducherry.
Do scammers use Tamil messages?
Yes. Scammers write in the language people trust, so a message in Tamil is no proof that it is genuine. Check the sender and the link, and use the official app or website yourself.