Scam-Check: Common Questions & Answers

You know those amazing deals advertised on Facebook and Instagram? Most are likely to be fake ! Scammers create fake profiles and post unbelievable offers, like "Rs 10,000 in cashback!", or "Scratch and Win a motorbike!" to tempt you into clicking the link.

Once you click on it, it may lead you to a fake website or prompt you to call them and share your personal details to siphon off your money. They'll pretend to be your friend, some famous influencer, or even big brands like Samsung or Flipkart.

WhatsApp forwards are the worst ! Fraudsters spread fake offers, dangerous links, or panic-creating messages, hoping you'll click without thinking or forward them to your family groups.

"Congratulations! You've won an iPhone 15!" - sounds familiar? These fake contests pop up everywhere, especially during Diwali or the New Year. Scammers pretend to be popular brands or celebrities to get you to click, and then steal your information.

Looking for a job? Be extra careful ! Scammers target job seekers with fake opportunities promising high salaries for easy work-from-home positions. But they always want money up front.

Oops ! Clicked a link you shouldn't have? Don' t panic, but you need to act quickly to protect yourself.

• Disconnect from WiFi and mobile data right away
• Run a complete antivirus scan on your phone or computer
• Change all your important passwords immediately
• If you entered banking details, call your bank's customer care number right now

Never download apps from random places, such as suspicious websites or strangers entering your WhatsApp chats ! Scammers create fake apps that look real but actually install malware on your phone to steal your banking information or spy on everything you do.

What is malware? Malware (malicious software) is any intrusive software developed by scammers to steal data and damage or destroy your devices.

Festival season means lots of online shopping and lots of too good to be true offers, but fake shopping websites are everywhere ! They take your money and never send anything.

Your bank will NEVER call asking for your PIN, OTP, or password. If someone calls claiming to be from SBI, HDFC, or any bank asking for these details, it's 100% a scam.

UPI payments are super convenient, but scammers are now misusing QR codes and payment links to trick people into sending money instead of receiving it.

Got a scary call or message saying there's some urgent problem with your bank account? 99% of the time it' s scammers trying to make you panic and share your details.

This is a new trick where scammers send you UPI "collect money" requests, hoping you'll approve them, thinking you' re receiving money. But you're actually sending your money to them!

Need money urgently? Scammers know people are desperate and offer instant loans or investment schemes with guaranteed high returns. It's always a trap!

A "digital arrest" is a sophisticated and completely fraudulent tactic used by cybercriminals to extort money and sensitive personal information. It is a scam where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials or government agencies (like the CBI, ED, RBI, or local police) to intimidate victims into believing they are under a "digital arrest."

There is no such legal provision as "digital arrest" under Indian law. Credible authorities do not conduct arrests over the phone or via a video call.

Not sure if an offer is real or fake? Here's how to check safely without falling into their trap:

• Google the company name along with words like "scam," "fraud," or "fake"
• Go directly to the official website (don't click links from messages)
• Ask in family WhatsApp groups - someone might have seen similar scams
• Use online scam-checking services and websites
• Check details about the viral website/link on bigdomaindata.com. If you notice the domain was registered just last week or recently, it's a red flag, as most legitimate businesses don' t have brand-new domains. You see the registrant information is hidden; it's common for scammers
• Forward it to BOOM's WhatsApp tipline: 7700906588. We' ll help you figure it out, at no charge

Your personal information is like gold for scammers. Once they have your details, they can misuse them in countless ways to cheat you and others.

• Use different, strong passwords for every account (not your birthday or "123456" or your pet's name)
• Turn on two-factor authentication on all important accounts
• Turn on multi-factor authentication for enhanced security
• Don't share personal details unnecessarily on Facebook, Instagram, etc. - Scammers can use these to guess your passwords
• Think carefully before downloading new apps or clicking on unknown links

Shared your OTP, PIN, or password with someone? This is very serious - you need to act right now !

• Call your bank's customer care immediately and ask them to block all transactions and your card
• Change your net banking password, UPI PIN, and ATM PIN right away
• Keep checking your bank account every few hours for unauthorised transactions
• File a complaint with cybercrime if any money was stolen. You can report the scam on https: //www.cybercrime.gov.in

Even smart, educated people fall for scams because they make these common mistakes:

During floods, earthquakes, or other disasters, scammers create fake donation appeals to steal money from people who want to help.

"Your computer has a virus! Call this number immediately!" - these scary pop-ups are completely fake. Microsoft, Apple, or Google never work like this.

"Congratulations! You have won ₹25 lakhs in KBC lottery!" - but you never participated in any lottery? It's definitely a scam.

This is the most emotionally manipulative scam - fraudsters pretend to be your relative in trouble and ask for an urgent money transfer.

You may have received fishy emails from IDs pretending to be your manager or your HR official. They will claim to have "lost their phone" or pretend to be caught in an emergency and need you to send them some money. Sometimes they may even say they have bought "gift cards" for all employees and ask you to click on a link to avail the gift. But these are always fake.