The 120 most common scams in India
From students to grandparents: how each scam works, what it looks like and what to do. The guide grows from what people report in the community.
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- #18
Scholarship or education loan processing fee
You are told a scholarship or education loan is approved and only a processing fee stands in the way.
Students and first jobsSMSWhatsAppPhone callFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #24
Electricity disconnection tonight message
A message says your power will be cut tonight for an unpaid bill and gives a personal number to call.
Working adultsSMSWhatsAppFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #30
Fake traffic e-challan link or app
A message says you have an unpaid traffic fine and asks you to pay through a link or an app file.
Working adultsSMSWhatsAppFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #36
FASTag or LPG KYC update
A message says your FASTag or gas connection will be blocked unless you update KYC through a link or a call.
Working adultsSMSPhone callFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #50
Fake school admission, fee or scholarship request
A message about school fees, admissions or a scholarship asks you to pay or share details through a link.
Parents and homemakersSMSWhatsAppFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #56
Smart meter or water bill update link
A message asks you to update your meter or bill details through a link, which collects your card details or installs an app.
Parents and homemakersSMSFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #61
Fake government scheme subsidy with a registration fee
A message says you qualify for a government scheme or subsidy, and a registration or processing fee is needed first.
Parents and homemakersWhatsAppPhone callFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #66
Pension stopped unless the life certificate is updated
A caller from the "pension office" says your pension will stop unless you update your life certificate, and asks for the OTP.
Senior citizensPhone callSMSFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #72
Health insurance renewal or health card update
A message or call about renewing health insurance or a health card asks for payment or an OTP through an unofficial channel.
Senior citizensPhone callSMSFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #77
Property tax or municipal notice link
A message about pending property tax or a municipal penalty asks you to pay through a link.
Senior citizensSMSFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #80
Pension arrears or allowance release "processing fee"
A caller says pension arrears or a dearness allowance hike are due and a processing fee must be paid to release them.
Senior citizensPhone callFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #81
Land record or property document verification fee
Someone claiming to be from the land records office says your documents need verification for a fee to avoid a dispute.
Senior citizensPhone callIn personFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #90
Fake GST notice or registration cancellation message
A message says your GST registration will be cancelled or a penalty is due, and asks you to pay or log in through a link.
Shops and small businessesEmailSMSFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #94
Fake trademark or domain renewal invoice
An official-looking invoice demands payment for a trademark listing or domain renewal that you never needed.
Shops and small businessesEmailFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #98
Fake government tender or supplier registration fee
A website or email offers a government tender or supplier registration for a fee, on a copy of an official portal.
Shops and small businessesEmailWebsiteFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #100
Fake penalty on a commercial electricity connection
A message says your shop's electricity connection has a penalty or will be cut, and asks for payment to a personal number.
Shops and small businessesSMSPhone callFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #109
PF withdrawal or KYC "agent" asking for a fee or your login
An "agent" or a fake website offers to help you withdraw your provident fund or fix your PF KYC, and takes a fee, your UAN password or an OTP.
Working adultsPhone callWebsiteFull guideBills, KYC and government services - #117
Fake rooftop solar subsidy registration site or agent charging a fee
A website, message or agent claims to register you for the government rooftop solar subsidy and charges a fee to register you or "release" the subsidy. The real scheme is applied for on its official national portal.
Parents and homemakersWebsiteWhatsAppFull guideBills, KYC and government services