Fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages: recognise them and report them

Step by step

1. 1

   Know the common patterns

   These all follow a similar pattern: create urgency or fear, then ask you to click a link, pay, or share a code.

   • A text or WhatsApp message with a link to "update" your KYC, SIM, bank account, gas or electricity connection.
   • A call or video call from someone claiming to be the police, CBI, ED, customs or a court, saying you or a family member is caught in a crime and you must stay on camera or pay to avoid arrest. This is called a "digital arrest" call. Police, CBI, ED, customs and courts never arrest anyone over a video call.
   • A call saying a parcel in your name has been held at customs, often with drugs mentioned, and you must pay over the call to clear your name.
   • A call or message offering a lottery prize or a job with high pay, asking you to pay a fee first.
   • A call or message claiming to be from TRAI, DoT, your bank or your telecom operator, saying your number or SIM will be cut off or is being misused.
2. 2

   Report the number, message or link on Chakshu

   Chakshu, on the Sanchar Saathi portal or app, has separate options for this: "Report Suspected Fraud" for a call, SMS or WhatsApp message meant to defraud you, impersonate someone, or misuse your details, and "Report Suspected Web Links" for a suspicious link sent by SMS, RCS, iMessage, email or social media. Both ask you to report within 30 days.

   This gets the number or link checked and added to the suspect list so others are warned. It doesn't get money back; that's what 1930 and the cyber crime portal are for.

   www.sancharsaathi.gov.in ↗Not working?
3. 3

   File it on the cyber crime portal too, even if you lost no money

   On cybercrime.gov.in, choose "Register a Complaint", then "Other Cyber Crime". The listed categories include Vishing, for a fraud phone call seeking your personal or banking details, Smishing, for a fraud SMS, Phishing, and Impersonation and Identity Theft. These describe the attempt itself, not just a loss, so you can file even if no money was taken.

   Add what happened, the number or message, and any screenshots as evidence.

   cybercrime.gov.in ↗Not working?
4. 4

   Call showed an Indian number but came from abroad?

   Fraud calls are sometimes routed to show an ordinary Indian mobile number. Report this kind of call on the Sanchar Saathi page for international calls showing an Indian number.

   www.sancharsaathi.gov.in ↗Not working?
5. 5

   Just an unwanted sales call or SMS, not a scam?

   If it's a telemarketing or promotional call or SMS you never agreed to, rather than an attempt to defraud you, that's Unwanted Commercial Communication (UCC), not fraud. Report it to TRAI, or use Chakshu's own Report Spam (UCC) option.

   trai.gov.in ↗Not working?
6. 6

   If money was already taken

   Call 1930 straight away, then follow the guide for money taken by UPI or bank fraud. Don't wait to finish reporting the call or message first.

   Call 1930Not working?

Watch out

• Police, CBI, ED, customs and courts never arrest anyone over a video call. So-called "digital arrest" calls are a scam.
• A parcel "held at customs" with drugs in your name is a scam. No courier or officer asks you to pay over a call to clear your name.
• A KYC, bill or SIM update SMS with a link is a common fraud. Fake KYC, electricity and gas bill messages are among the examples Chakshu lists.
• Calls claiming to be from TRAI or DoT, threatening to cut off your number, are fake. Hang up and report the number on Chakshu.
• No lottery or employer asks you to pay a fee before you get the prize money or the job.
• Your bank, telecom operator or any government office never asks for your OTP, PIN or password over a call, SMS or WhatsApp message.