No one thinks it’ll happen to them, until it does. Scams thrive because we assume we’re too smart to fall for them, says SAKSHI PRIYA

What Would You Do If a Stranger Called and Asked for Rs 50,000 for a Promise You Couldn’t Verify? Imagine getting a call from someone claiming they can help you with something important, a delivery, a service or a donation. They show you pictures, maybe even a video, to prove it.

Then they ask for money upfront, promising everything will be delivered once you pay. What would you do? Would you trust them? This is the reality for thousands of people every day. People are being tricked over the phone with fake stories and false promises. They transfer money hoping to get help or support, only to find themselves victims of an elaborate scam. One man trusted the caller because the voice was convincing and the pictures looked real. He sent Rs 50,000 and waited. But the call ended abruptly, the phone went silent and the promised delivery never came. This is not an isolated case. Digital scams have become an invisible epidemic, preying on trust, using technology and emotions to cheat innocent people out of their hard-earned money.

How Safe Is Your Phone?

Have you ever answered a phone call from an unknown number and felt an immediate unease? What if the caller claimed to be from the police, your bank or a well-known charity asking for money or personal information? Would you hang up immediately or listen-just long enough to fall into a trap? These questions have become painfully real for millions of Indians today. In one moment, trust turns into loss and a simple phone call can drain life savings or devastate families.

The Anatomy of a Scam

Digital scams today are crafted to look real and urgent. They build trust quickly by sharing photos, videos or even video calls that seem genuine. Using this trust, they create pressure by saying you must pay a fee or share a One-Time Password (OTP) immediately, warning of severe consequences otherwise. The sense of urgency leaves victims little time to think clearly.

For example, An elderly woman receives a call saying her bank account is at risk. She is told to share an OTP (one-time password) to “secure” her account. Trusting the voice, she complies. Minutes later, Rs 4 lakh vanishes from her account. Some scammers claim to be verifying your bank account or Aadhaar details and ask you to share OTPs sent to your phone. Once they have these codes, they drain your bank account within minutes.

How Do Scammers Operate?

Fraudsters have become experts at playing with emotions and using technology. Their tools include:

• Fake Identities: They pose as officials from banks, Government bodies, NGOs, or even the police.
• Emotional Pressure: Victims are rushed with threats-accounts will be frozen, legal action will follow, or families may face trouble.
• Technology Abuse: Using fake video calls, voice cloning and phishing links, scammers appear more convincing than ever.

Real Cases from Across India

Mumbai: An 86-year-old woman was harassed over weeks by fake police officials saying her Aadhaar was linked to a crime. She was coerced into transferring Rs 20 crore.

Ahmedabad: A WhatsApp investment group convinced a retired man to invest Rs 83 lakh with promises of high returns. When he sought to withdraw, he was locked out.

Delhi NCR: An elderly woman lost Rs 4 lakh after sharing her OTP to complete a Rs 1 KYC verification. These stories highlight the diversity of scams and their victims.

Why Are These Scams So Effective?

Trust in Authority: Many victims believe they are dealing with officials or charitable organisations.

Fear and Urgency: Scammers create panic, forcing quick decisions without second thoughts.

Advanced Technology: Deepfake videos, voice cloning and spoofed phone numbers make scams harder to detect.

Language and Local Dialects: Scammers often speak in regional languages, making their approach more believable.

Stay informed, If you suspect fraud, report it immediately. Together, we can fight this silent crisis before it takes more victims.

Trust Becomes a Weapon

What if the next call you receive is not from a friend, but from someone pretending to be one? What if a uniform, a video call or a calm voice convinces you to part with your savings and you realise the truth only after it’s too late? In India today, digital scams are targeting not just the uninformed, but the cautious, the educated and the alert.  With scammers advancing faster than the systems meant to stop them, the real question is, how safe are you?

Vigilance Is the Best Defence

Digital scams are a growing menace affecting every corner of India. While technology connects us, it also exposes us to new risks. Awareness and caution are our best weapons. If something sounds suspicious, it probably is. Your next phone call could be a scam, be ready to protect yourself. Victims often face shame, fear and mental trauma. Some stop using digital banking altogether, losing access to vital services. In tragic cases, the emotional toll has led to depression and even suicide.

The Government and Celebrity Warnings

Aware of the rising threat, the Government and public figures have launched awareness campaigns. Recently, the voice of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan has been used in recorded messages to warn citizens against sharing OTPs or personal details over the phone.

These messages circulate widely on phones and social media, reaching even rural areas where scams are common but awareness is low. This kind of public outreach is essential, but experts warn that awareness alone is not enough. People need tools and easy ways to verify suspicious calls and report fraud. Your best protection is to stay informed, question suspicious calls and never give away sensitive information.

How to Protect Yourself and Others

• Never Share OTPs or Passwords: Banks and Government agencies never ask for these over calls or messages.
• Verify the Caller: If someone claims to be an official, hang up and call back on the organisation’s official number.
• Be Skeptical of Urgency: Take your time to verify information and never rush into transferring money.
• Report Scams Immediately: Use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call the helpline 1930.

The Alarming Rise of Digital Scams in India

From fake video calls and cloned voices to deepfake officials and AI-generated frauds, digital scams are sweeping across like never before. To understand what makes these scams so dangerously effective and what we can do about them, we spoke with Dr Nishakant Ojha, an internationally acclaimed cybersecurity expert, who advises multiple Governments on counter-terrorism, artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty. In this  conversation, he breaks down the anatomy of today’s scams, the psychology behind them and the policies that can save us from disaster.

What tactics do scammers use?

Scammers are no longer just hackers, they’re psychologists, marketers, and engineers rolled into one. Psychological tactics include: Urgency: “Your income tax filing has failed-click here in 15 mins or face penalties.” Fear: “Your Aadhaar card is blacklisted.” Authority hijacking: Emails appearing from RBI, MEITY, or even the Prime Minister’s Office. Empathy manipulation: In romance scams, a user thinks they’re helping someone in love when in reality, they’re being looted.

Technical tools include:

• AI voice cloning (just 3 seconds of your voice can now be replicated).
• Homograph attacks using international scripts that resemble English domains.
• Remote Access Trojans (RATs) like njRAT and Quasar used to hijack devices silently.
• QR code fraud where scanning leads to malware payloads.
• Even the humble OTP is no longer secure when SIM swap frauds are being executed across telecom networks.

Is cybersecurity only about strong passwords and antivirus?

Let me be blunt: passwords and antivirus alone are like carrying a wooden shield into a drone war.

We need a complete behavioural and cultural reset. Cybersecurity should be taught in schools, not after a breach. Every citizen should follow digital SOPs, the way we follow traffic rules. Businesses must stop seeing cybersecurity as a cost, it is a strategic investment. Government and private sectors must collaborate in real-time. We can no longer work in silos. 

Most dangerous scams today?

The most dangerous scams today are multi-layered operations. We’re seeing deepfake impersonation scams, AI-generated voice phishing, and attacks originating from advanced persistent threat (APT) groups, especially from adversarial states. A recent example is the fraudulent impersonation of top Government officials using cloned WhatsApp voice notes. In some cases, crores have been lost simply due to urgency and trust. These scams typically start with data collection your LinkedIn, Instagram or Aadhaar details might already be in circulation on the dark web.

Why do even highly educated users fall for these attacks?

Because technology is evolving faster than awareness. Being educated in finance, law or engineering doesn’t protect someone from the psychological manipulation used by cybercriminals. Even highly placed bureaucrats and CEOs in India have fallen for fake UPI refund messages and OTP traps. A 2024 CERT-IN study showed that 65 per cent of cyber fraud victims had postgraduate degrees. Why? Because scams now mimic trusted entities perfectly your bank, your HR team  or your family.      

What to do in the first hour after getting scammed?

The first hour is crucial and could mean the difference between damage control and disaster. Immediately disconnect your device from the internet to cut off access. Contact your bank and freeze your accounts. Ask for reversal if UPI is involved-many banks allow short-term rollbacks. Change your passwords, especially for email, banking. File a complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in and note down the complaint number. Run a full antivirus and anti-malware scan with enterprise-grade tools (not free apps). Alert the IT and legal teams, preserve digital logs, and inform CERT-IN.

Are there any new technologies or policies giving us hope?

India is stepping up. Some of the most promising developments include: Zero Trust Architecture now being implemented in sensitive ministries. FIDO2 authentication using biometric or physical tokens is replacing passwords in Government systems. Blockchain-based land records and Aadhaar-linked verification are being explored to prevent identity fraud. AI-Powered Cyber Threat Intelligence Platforms are being rolled out in India’s national security grid. New policies under the Digital India Act and Cybersecurity Policy 2024 will soon mandate.