Spotting scam messages: UPI, delivery and job fraud tricks to watch for

Most scams in India now arrive by SMS, WhatsApp or a phone call. They look different but follow the same pattern: urgency, a link, and a request for money or a code.

Red flags

• You must pay or click within minutes
• A refund that needs you to enter your UPI PIN. Entering a PIN only ever sends money out.
• A parcel held for a small fee you never ordered
• A part-time job that pays for likes or reviews, then asks for a deposit
• Anyone asking for an OTP over the phone

If you clicked or paid

Call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in quickly, and inform your bank. Speed improves the chance of freezing the money.