Fake KYC update Active Vector An SMS, WhatsApp, or call claims your bank or wallet KYC will expire today and asks you to click a link or share details.
Rule of thumb:
No bank ever asks you to update KYC by clicking a random link or sharing OTP.
Recognized keywords:
kyc kyc update kyc expire kyc verification
Courier or parcel scam Active Vector Caller says a parcel in your name was seized at customs with drugs or illegal items, then poses as police or CBI to extort money.
Rule of thumb:
Real police never demand money over phone or video call. Hang up and call 1930.
Recognized keywords:
courier parcel fedex dhl
Investment & trading group scam Active Vector WhatsApp or Telegram group offering ‘guaranteed’ stock tips or huge crypto returns. Often shows fake screenshots of profits.
Rule of thumb:
No legitimate broker promises guaranteed returns or runs trading from a chat group.
Recognized keywords:
investment trading group stock tip crypto
Loan & credit card scam Active Vector Calls or apps promise instant loans or credit card limit upgrades, then ask for processing fees, OTP, or remote-access apps.
Rule of thumb:
Real lenders deduct fees from the loan, never ask you to pay upfront. Never install screen-share apps for "verification".
Recognized keywords:
loan credit card limit upgrade instant loan
Job & part-time work scam Active Vector Offers ‘easy work from home’ or international job placements, then asks for registration fees, training fees, or your bank login.
Rule of thumb:
A real employer pays you, never the other way around. Never pay to get a job.
Recognized keywords:
job offer part time job work from home rating job
Prize, lottery & cashback scam Active Vector ‘You’ve won!’ messages from KBC, Flipkart, or a lottery you never entered, asking for a small fee or KYC to release the prize.
Rule of thumb:
If you must pay anything to receive a prize, it’s a scam.
Recognized keywords:
lottery prize kbc winner
Tech support & customer care scam Active Vector A fake ‘customer care’ number found on Google, or a caller from ‘Microsoft’ or your bank, asks you to install AnyDesk or share your screen.
Rule of thumb:
Always get bank, app, or service numbers from the official app or website — never from Google search results.
Recognized keywords:
customer care tech support microsoft support anydesk
UPI & payment trick Active Vector Scammer sends a ‘request money’ collect request, fake QR code, or wrong-number transfer story to trick you into paying instead of receiving.
Rule of thumb:
You only enter your UPI PIN to send money, never to receive it. Read the screen carefully.
Recognized keywords:
upi qr code collect request wrong transfer
Romance & matrimony scam Active Vector Long, friendly chats on dating or matrimonial apps move to WhatsApp, then end with emergencies needing money — gifts stuck at customs, hospital bills, or visas.
Rule of thumb:
Anyone who has never met you in person but asks for money is a scammer. Stop, talk to a friend, do not send anything.
Recognized keywords:
romance dating matrimony tinder
Government / police impersonation Active Vector Caller claims to be from CBI, police, income-tax, TRAI, or your electricity board, threatens action, and demands immediate payment.
Rule of thumb:
Government agencies never demand money over phone. Verify by calling the official number from the official website.
Recognized keywords:
cbi police call income tax trai
SIM swap & OTP theft Active Vector Tricked into sharing an OTP, scanning a QR, or replacing your SIM, after which the scammer takes over your bank or UPI app.
Rule of thumb:
Never share OTP. If your phone suddenly loses signal for hours, contact your operator immediately.
Recognized keywords:
sim swap sim block otp share otp scam