Scam guides

Scam guides for Indian phone users

Short, practical guides to the scams that reach phones in India, written by Aman Gupta, who has spent 12+ years in cyber security and cyber crime investigation. Each one says what to check, what to do if it already happened, and where SecureOne can and cannot help.

• How to check if a link is safe before you open itA 30-second check for any link you get on WhatsApp, SMS or email in India: the address, shorteners, lookalike domains, and free tools that check it for you.
• Fake bank app (APK) scam on WhatsApp: how to spot it and what to doScammers send "bank KYC" or "reward" APK files on WhatsApp that steal OTPs and drain accounts. How the scam works, how to spot it, and what to do if you installed one.
• UPI QR code scams: what to check before you scan and payYou never need to scan a QR code or enter your UPI PIN to receive money. The common UPI QR and collect-request scams in India, and the two-second check before every payment.
• Instant loan app harassment: how to check a loan app and what to doPredatory instant loan apps take contacts and photos, then threaten borrowers and their families. How to check a loan app before installing, and where to report harassment in India.
• Phone stolen or lost in India: what to do in the first hourLocate or lock the phone, block the SIM and UPI, file a police complaint, and block the phone's IMEI on Sanchar Saathi (CEIR). A checklist for the first hour after a theft.

Lost money to a scam? Call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline) and report at cybercrime.gov.in as soon as you can.