According to recent reports, cybercrime in India significantly increased in 2024 and will be growing all through 2025, with statistics showing a large rise in reported cases and financial losses, with over 740,000 cybercrime complaints filed in the first four months of the year alone, resulting in losses exceeding ₹1,750 crore to cybercriminals; this surge is attributed to a global increase in cyberattacks, placing India among the most affected countries

An updated list of cybercrimes and modus used this year. Worth Sharing isnt it ?.

1. If you are called about how the TRAI is going to disconnect your phone, do not respond. It is a scam.

2. If you are called by FedEx about a package and asked to press 1 or whatever, do not respond. It is a scam.

3. If a police officer calls you and talks to you about your Aadhaar, do not respond. It is a scam.

4. If they tell you that you are under 'digital arrest', do not respond. It is a scam.

5. It they tell you that drugs have been discovered in some package meant for you or sent by you, do not respond. It is a scam.

6. If they say you can't tell anyone, do not listen to them. Inform National Helpline for reporting cyber crime and financial frauds at 1930. If in State of Maharashtra you can also call 14407
You can file a complaint (take typed or hand written two copies with screen shots and bank statements) in nearest regular police station or cyber crime police station also. 7. If they contact you using WhatsApp or SMS, do not respond. It is a scam.

8. If anyone calls you and tells you they have sent money to your UPI id by mistake and that they just want their money back, do not respond. It is a scam.

9. If someone says they want to buy your car or your washing machine or your sofa and say they are from the army or CRPF and show you their id card, do not respond. It is a scam.

10. If someone says they are calling from Swiggy or Zomato and need you to confirm your address by pressing 1 or anything else, do not respond. It is a scam.

11. If they ask you to share OTP just to cancel the order or ride or whatever, do not respond. It is a scam. In any case, do not share your OTP with anyone over phone.

12. Never answer any calls on video mode, if you want to answer buy a webcam cover / mobile phone camera cover or sticker , first close the cover and answer the call

13. If confused simply switch off your phone & block that number.

14. Never press on any link written in blue.

15. Even if you get a notice about pornography or TAX Evasion from the highest Police , CBI, ED , IT Department; do verify offline.

16. Always check if such letters are from Government portals, TIP: Letters with too many logos and stamps are FAKE

17. If somebody calls you stating that a sub-poena( American's call summons of Court as Sub-poena) and you have to come and collect it or you have to pay to see it., ask him/her to send it through the process server of the court or by registered post to address on the summons or case file. If they threaten you, just waste the person's time. Also ask for the Judge's name, Court Room No and floor and /or Building no- if the person is not able to tell, then it means it is a sure shot scam.

18. If somebody calls and says that he /she is calling from Police station and you are being summoned, ask him/her to send it to local police station (dont disclose your location/city) and let the local police station serve it on you.

19. Don't part with ANY Debit/ Credit/ Rupay Card details including card number, CVV, Date of Expiry.

20. A phone number prefix of "160" indicates a call is meant for service or transactional purposes, usually from government agencies or regulated financial institutions, designed to help identify genuine calls and combat fraudulent ones; essentially, if a call starts with "160", it is likely a legitimate service call from a verified source like a bank or government department. Don't pick calls marked Spam or Fraud. Block all calls that fall under this category.

21. Disconnect any calls informing that "So and so asked me to send such and such amount to you". Call the person supposed to be sending you money and confirm. But, don't click on links or scan QR Code or share OTP.

22. Don't do anything if someone calls informing about an emergency/ illness/ accident of a dear one/ relative/ friend, asking to send/ deposit money. Even if it's a video call or a voice call. Call the dear one/ relative/ friend/ their family etc, and confirm. If the person is not reachable, then Google the numbers yourself and call the hospital etc and make enquiry. Physically reach that place, if feasible.

23. Don't respond to ANY calls/ messages "advising buying of shares/ stock Or cryptocurrency". Don't buy such stock because "definite gains" are predicted.

24. Don't respond to calls/ messages promising "home based work". They snare you, make you send money "for investing" while showing "profits". There are NEVER any profits. It's a scam.

25. Don't rush out of the house if you hear the voice of a dear one/ relative/ friend in pain, asking for help. Especially during the night. Try to assess who's outside. Call the dear one/ relative/ friend's mobile/ home. Call the police, if necessary.

26. Don't fall for "easy loans" Apps. They gradually snare you in taking multiple loans that you can't return. Sometimes, they promise huge returns, and give you loans for investing. There are NEVER profits. The money you "invested" is gone. You take the loan to only invest in some scam. Your "investment" will be lost but you will be responsible for paying off the Loan and interest. Then they start tightening the screws.

27. Avoid selling secondhand items on OLX or Quickr or any websites if the buyer is not paying from his own bank account or UPI.

28. Avoid falling prey to indiapost scam where someone calls and says your letter is undelivered and asks you to visit a website or directs you to a IVR CALL.

29. Remember these vultures feast on individual GREED and or FEAR. There is NOTHING FREE. There's nothing like "EASY MONEY/ RETURNS/ ONCE A LIFETIME DEAL"... And, if you are not dealing in drugs/ banned medicines/ fake passports/ illegal arms and ammunition/ human trafficking or other crimes like laundering money - YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR!!

30. AVOID ALL IVR CALLS i.e. AUTOMATED CALLS ASKING TO PRESS SOME NUMBER FOR OPTIONS IN MENU

31. This is the link to Report Suspected Fraud Communication and Report Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) / Spam: https://sancharsaathi.gov.in

32. This is the link to inform such fraudsters and file cyber crime or fraud related complaint: https://cybercrime.gov.in

REMEMBER- NO COURT/ POLICE STATION/ GOVT INVESTIGATION AGENCY CALLS and informs you - they work on paper mode and there is a reason for this ! Always STOP,PAUSE and dont jump to give answers !! Sharing it so that people are aware and don’t fall prey to the scammers.


By: Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali Founder at Cyber Law Consulting (Advocates & Attorneys)