Staying safe from online fraud in West Bengal
Scams to recognise, where to report and how to protect your phone in Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur and across West Bengal.
West Bengal is a state of India with Kolkata as its capital and large cities such as Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Siliguri. People there use phones in Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, 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 West Bengal should watch for
The scams below are reported across India, so they can reach anyone in West Bengal, from Kolkata to a small town. We list them to help you recognise them, not to claim how often they happen in your district.
Messages in Bengali
Scammers copy the language and tone of local banks, courier staff and government offices. A message in Bengali 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 West Bengal
- 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 Kolkata 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 West Bengal?
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 West Bengal.
Do scammers use Bengali messages?
Yes. Scammers write in the language people trust, so a message in Bengali is no proof that it is genuine. Check the sender and the link, and use the official app or website yourself.