Trending Scams This Month

"Digital Arrest" Scams

The single fastest-growing scam pattern in India right now. A video or voice call claims to be from CBI, police, customs, or the narcotics bureau, alleging you're involved in a crime — often a parcel with illegal items, or a money laundering case linked to your Aadhaar. You're told you're under "digital arrest" and must stay on video call, isolated, while transferring money to "clear your name" or avoid immediate physical arrest.

The one fact that ends this scam instantly: no Indian law enforcement agency — police, CBI, ED, customs, or courts — has any power called "digital arrest," and none of them investigate or resolve cases over a WhatsApp or Skype video call. If you're on a call like this, hang up immediately and call 1930. Read the full breakdown in our Digital Arrest scam article.

Deepfake Celebrity Investment Ads

AI-generated videos of well-known business leaders and celebrities "endorsing" a trading app or investment platform are circulating widely on social media. The faces and voices are convincingly cloned from real public footage, but the endorsement itself is entirely fabricated — no such platform was actually endorsed.

Treat any celebrity "investment tip" video with default suspicion — well-known business figures do not personally promote specific trading apps on social media. See our article on fake trading app scams for how the follow-up deposit trap usually works.

Small "Test" Transactions to Dodge Fraud Alerts

Fraudsters are increasingly running many small transactions — often under ₹500 — instead of one large one, specifically because small amounts are less likely to trigger a bank's automatic fraud alert. If you notice several small, unfamiliar debits rather than one large one, don't dismiss it as insignificant — it's often the same scam pattern, just spread out to stay under the radar.

Fake Payment Apps Spreading via WhatsApp Forwards

Counterfeit apps designed to closely mimic real UPI payment apps continue to circulate through WhatsApp forwards and unofficial download links, aiming to capture login credentials from people who install them expecting a genuine app. See our full article on fake payment app scams for how to check before installing anything.