When a payment or account problem occurs, people often search online for a customer-care number. Scammers exploit this by publishing fake numbers, impersonating companies or posting details in comments and social-media replies. A convincing listing is not proof that a contact is genuine.
Warning signs
- The number appears only in a random comment, unverified profile or unsolicited message.
- The caller asks for an OTP, UPI PIN, card PIN, password or full authentication code.
- You are asked to install remote-access software or share your phone screen to receive a refund.
- You must transfer money or pay a “verification fee” before a refund can be released.
- The caller threatens immediate account closure and refuses to let you verify independently.
Find the genuine number
- Open the company’s official website by typing its known address yourself or using its official app.
- For banks, use the official bank website/app or number printed on your card or statement.
- Check the domain spelling carefully; lookalike websites and sponsored search results may imitate a company.
- If someone calls you first, end the call and contact the organisation using details you independently verified.
- For a UPI issue, open the transaction in your official payment app and start from its help section.
If you already shared information
End the conversation. Change any password you revealed through the genuine service and anywhere else you reused it. Contact your bank immediately if you disclosed financial details or approved a transfer. If you installed an app at the caller’s request, remove suspicious access and seek help from the device maker or a trusted technician. Do not rely on the same caller to fix the problem.
If money has been taken or you suspect financial cyber fraud, call 1930 promptly and report through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Keep call logs, messages, transaction IDs and screenshots.
For more guidance, read NewsNationOnline’s guide to reporting online fraud in India and visit the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Official advice
The US Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers create fake customer-service information in search results and recommends checking contact details through a company’s official website or product documentation. Follow the same verification habit for Indian services.
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