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Scams in India: what to watch for right now

A plain summary of the scams official agencies in India warn about most, with the latest published figures and the fastest way to get help.

By the TapSafely editorial teamUpdated

The numbers

People in India reported losing Rs 22,845.73 crore to cyber fraud in 2024, up from Rs 7,465.18 crore in 2023.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

As of 31 December 2025, more than Rs 8,189 crore had been saved in more than 23.61 lakh complaints through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting system linked to helpline 1930.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

By 31 October 2025, the Government of India had blocked more than 11.14 lakh SIM cards and 2.96 lakh IMEIs linked to cyber fraud.

Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Scams to watch for in India

Common in India

Digital arrest scams

The government says criminals pose as State or UT Police, NCB, CBI and RBI officials, and it has blocked more than 1,700 Skype IDs and 59,000 WhatsApp accounts used for digital arrest fraud.

How to spot it
Common in India

Investment and trading scams

The Ministry of Home Affairs names investment scams among the main fraud methods in its national cyber awareness campaigns, and the Department of Telecommunications lists investment and trading schemes among common fraud messages.

How to spot it
Common in India

Fake job, loan and prize offers

The Department of Telecommunications lists fake job, gift, lottery and loan offers among the fraud calls and messages people can report on Chakshu.

How to spot it
Common in India

Fake KYC and phishing messages

The Department of Telecommunications lists fake KYC and payment messages about banking, utilities and insurance, and malicious links, among common fraud communications.

How to spot it
Common in India

Fake booking sites and social media ads

I4C has warned about fake websites and social media pages offering helicopter, hotel, cab and tour bookings to pilgrims and tourists, and the Ministry of Home Affairs names fake social media advertisements as a key fraud method.

How to spot it

Who scammers pretend to be

State and UT PoliceCentral Bureau of Investigation (CBI)Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)Reserve Bank of India (RBI)Department of Telecommunications and TRAIBanks (fake KYC updates)

Never trust a call, text or email just because it uses one of these names. Contact the organisation using details you find yourself.

If you've been scammed in India

  1. Call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 straight away if you have lost money, so your payment can be flagged quickly.
  2. File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in.
  3. Report suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages on Chakshu at sancharsaathi.gov.in. Chakshu is for suspicious messages, not for reporting money already lost.

Where to report a scam in India

Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work.

Scam Weather for India

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Questions

What are the most common scams in India?

According to official sources: Digital arrest scams, Investment and trading scams, Fake job, loan and prize offers, Fake KYC and phishing messages, Fake booking sites and social media ads.

What should I do first if I've been scammed in India?

Call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 straight away if you have lost money, so your payment can be flagged quickly. File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in.

Who do scammers pretend to be in India?

Official warnings mention State and UT Police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Department of Telecommunications and TRAI, Banks (fake KYC updates).

Official sources and further reading

Figures and warnings on this page come from these official sources.