2 weeks Ago
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has warned users about a new call merging scam. Fraudsters use this technique to trick victims into revealing their One-Time Passwords (OTPs), leading to financial losses. NPCI issued the alert on its X (formerly Twitter) account, urging users to stay cautious.
Scammers are using call merging to trick you into revealing OTPs. Don’t fall for it! Stay alert and protect your money. ???????? Share this post to spread awareness! #UPI #CyberSecurity #FraudPrevention #StaySafe #OnlineFraudAwareness #SecurePayments pic.
twitter.com/kZ3TmbyVag — UPI (@UPI_NPCI) February 14, 2025 How the scam works Fraudsters are exploiting call merging, a feature meant for convenience, to trick individuals into sharing OTPs. Scammers call unsuspecting users and claim they got their number from a friend.
They then request to merge the call with the so-called friend, who is actually calling from another number. Once merged, the victim unknowingly connects to a legitimate OTP verification call from their bank. The scammer then manipulates the user into sharing the OTP, completing fraudulent transactions.
How to stay safe NPCI shared these safety tips to prevent falling for such scams: Never merge calls with unknown numbers. Be cautious if someone requests you to merge calls, especially from unfamiliar sources. Verify caller authenticity.
If someone claims to be from your bank or a trusted contact, confirm their identity before taking any action. Banks and genuine service providers will never ask for OTPs over calls. If someone insists, it is likely a scam.
Report suspicious OTPs. If you receive an OTP for a transaction you did not initiate, report it immediately to 1930, the national cybercrime helpline, and inform your bank to prevent any loss. "Every new technology or banking facility meant for ease of access becomes a potential tool for fraudsters if users are not aware of the risks.
It's crucial that digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness evolve alongside financial innovations to prevent misuse," says Shashank Shekhar, co-founder, Future Crime Research Foundation. ALSO READ | Google Pay introduces convenience fee on bill payments via credit, debit cards: Report.
