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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- #46
"Mummy, I'm in trouble, send money" from a new number
A message from an unknown number says it is your child or relative on a new phone, in urgent need of money.
Parents and homemakersWhatsAppFull guideFamily emergencies and impersonation - #47
Hacked relative's WhatsApp or Facebook asking for money
A message from a real contact's account, which has been taken over, asks for urgent money or for a code sent to your phone.
Parents and homemakersWhatsAppSocial mediaFull guideFamily emergencies and impersonation - #48
AI voice clone of a family member in distress
A call in the exact voice of your child or relative, in panic, asks for money for an accident, arrest or hospital.
Parents and homemakersPhone callFull guideFamily emergencies and impersonation - #49
"Your son has been arrested" call
A caller showing a police photo on WhatsApp says your child is in custody and can be released for a payment.
Parents and homemakersPhone callWhatsAppFull guideFamily emergencies and impersonation - #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 - #51
Work-from-home packing, assembly or review job with a starter kit fee
Home-based work is offered, but you must buy a starter kit or pay a registration fee, and the work or payment never comes.
Parents and homemakersSocial mediaWhatsAppFull guideJobs, exams and easy money - #52
Festival offer, free gift or survey link
A forwarded link offers a free gift or prize for answering a survey, and leads to data theft or payment fraud.
Parents and homemakersWhatsAppSocial mediaFull guidePrizes, refunds and offers - #53
Gold scheme, chit fund or "double your money" plan
An unregistered scheme promises high or doubled returns and pays early members from new members' money until it collapses.
Parents and homemakersIn personWhatsAppFull guideInvesting and money schemes - #54
Multi-level marketing that pays only for recruits
A business opportunity earns mainly by recruiting others who pay to join, not by selling products.
Parents and homemakersIn personSocial mediaFull guideInvesting and money schemes - #55
Miracle cure or health product with advance payment
A product promises to cure a serious illness, asks for advance payment, and delivers nothing or something harmful.
Parents and homemakersSocial mediaPhone callFull guideShopping, bookings and 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 - #57
Cash-on-delivery parcel you did not order
A delivery agent brings a parcel you never ordered and asks for cash; the box contains something worthless.
Parents and homemakersIn personFull guideShopping, bookings and services - #58
Matrimonial site profile asking for money
A profile on a matrimonial site, often "settled abroad", builds trust and then needs money for customs, travel or an emergency.
Parents and homemakersWebsiteAppFull guideRomance, sextortion and blackmail - #59
Fake charity or disaster relief appeal
An emotional appeal for a patient, an animal shelter or disaster relief collects donations into a personal account.
Parents and homemakersWhatsAppSocial mediaFull guideFamily emergencies and impersonation - #60
Lottery, quiz show or lucky draw prize with a "tax" to pay first
A message says you won a big prize in a lottery or quiz show draw, and asks for a tax or processing fee before release.
Parents and homemakersWhatsAppPhone callFull guidePrizes, refunds and offers - #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 - #62
Mobile tower installation on your roof for rent
A company offers high monthly rent and an advance for installing a mobile tower, but first needs fees for permissions.
Parents and homemakersPhone callSMSFull guideJobs, exams and easy money - #63
Franchise or dealership offer in a well-known brand's name
A website copies a famous brand and offers a franchise or dealership for an application and security fee.
Parents and homemakersWebsiteEmailFull guideInvesting and money schemes - #64
Domestic help or caregiver agency asking for a deposit
An agency promises a maid, cook or caregiver for an advance deposit, and nobody arrives.
Parents and homemakersWebsitePhone callFull guideShopping, bookings and services - #65
Aadhaar-enabled payment misuse through cloned fingerprints
Fingerprints taken from property or other records are cloned and used to withdraw money through Aadhaar-enabled payments.
Parents and homemakersIn personFull guideBank, UPI and cards - #114
Online game "friend" asks a child for a parent's phone or OTP
A friendly player in an online game promises free items or game currency, and gets a child to share a parent's phone, OTP, card or UPI details, or to install an app on the parent's phone.
Parents and homemakersSocial mediaAppFull guideFake apps, links and helplines - #115
Online astrologer, tantrik or baba demanding repeated payments for remedies
Someone posing as an astrologer, tantrik or baba online finds one problem after another in your stars, asks for money for each remedy or puja, and may threaten you if you stop.
Parents and homemakersSocial mediaPhone callFull guideShopping, bookings and services - #116
"Pre-launch" plot or flat booking with no RERA registration
A plot or flat is offered at a low "pre-launch" price before the project is registered with RERA or has its approvals, and the booking money is at risk.
Parents and homemakersWebsitePhone callFull guideInvesting and money schemes - #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 - #118
Buyer promising lakhs for old coins or notes, then asking for fees
An ad or page promises lakhs for an old coin or note, then asks you to pay for "RBI registration", tax, insurance or a certificate before you are paid.
Parents and homemakersSocial mediaWebsiteFull guidePrizes, refunds and offers