Scam calls have been on the rise of late, and a recent financial fraud scheme has emerged as a significant threat, as it has been reported by a number of people on social media platforms. This scam involves fraudulent SMS messages and phone calls designed to trick victims into transferring money.
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Recently, a techie from Bengaluru, Aditi, shared her experience of nearly falling prey to this scam. While on an office call, she received a phone call from an elderly-sounding man. He said, “Aditi beta, papa ko paise bhejne the par unko ja nahi rahe toh unhone bola aapko bhejdu. Beta check karo aapka number yahi hai na (Aditi beta, I need to send money to your father but I’m unable to. SO he asked me to send it to you instead).” After confirming her number, she received SMS notifications of a supposed Rs 10,000 credit, followed by another for Rs 30,000.
How the Scam Unfolded
The caller then created a sense of urgency by claiming that he accidentally transferred Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 3,000 and needed the excess amount sent back immediately. He pleaded, “Beta, mujhe toh INR 3k hi bhejne the par galti se 30k bhej diye, pls aap baaki paise wapas bhejde mai doctor sahaab ke yaha khada hu, unko dena hai paise. (Beta I had to send Rs 3000 but I’ve sent you Rs 30,000 instead. Please send the remaining amount immediately as I’ve to pay it to my doctor.)“
Recognizing the Red Flags
While the fraud seemed convincing, the victim Aditi noticed various warning signs, such as:
- The SMS messages appeared to be from a regular 10-digit phone number, not a verified company ID.
- The caller’s urgency and emotional manipulation raised suspicion.
- Her past experience with her meticulous father, who always double-checks financial transactions, helped her remain cautious.
Upon checking her actual bank account, Aditi found no such credits. When she tried to call the number back, she was blocked.
Other Readers Share Similar Experiences
After Aditi’s post went viral, several others took to her social media thread on X to share similar experiences. “Exactly the same thing happened to me. I knew the moment he called because my paa would never give my number before letting me know. But I went ahead and had a conversation with him. Him: “Beta, message aya hog. Me: “Uncle, koi message nhi hai, ap call par wait kro, let me call my paa. Him: “Acha” and cut the call. The text I received is from the same number I received the call – a very silly mistake from his side,” says another viewer.
Similarly, “Dad got into a similar scam. He actually sent the money. The messages had company tags not normal phone numbers but then that guy is a skilled scammer and had 3 other scams on the same day. stay safe,” said Yashika.
Key Takeaways to Avoid Falling Victim
Since such scams are on the rise, and bad elements are constantly seeking ways to fool gullible victims, following these points may help people stay safe and vigilant:
- Always check bank account on a separate device to confirm any financial transactions. Do not rely solely on SMS notifications.
- Be wary of any request for money transfers that create a sense of urgency or emotional manipulation.
- Authentic financial SMS messages typically come from verified IDs, not regular phone numbers.
- Upon receiving such a call, disconnect immediately without engaging with the caller. Report the incident to your nearest police station and the cybercrime department.
