One wrong call: How fake helpline numbers are scamming people out of their money

A 52-year-old man from Pathanamthitta, Kerala, lost Rs 95,000 after calling what he believed was the helpline of his water purifier company. He found the toll-free number online and dialled it—unaware it was fake.

The person on the other end, posing as a customer service executive, convinced him to install an app for “support.” That app gave the fraudsters full access to his phone. Within minutes, three unauthorised UPI transactions emptied his account.

Police confirmed that the number had been created by cybercriminals and uploaded online. A case has been registered. Officials have reiterated the importance of verifying customer care numbers through official websites only.

“There is a rise in fraudsters using toll-free numbers to scam in India,” said Harmeet Singh, Executive Director at Deloitte India.

“These scams are growing more sophisticated. Fraudsters now exploit technology and trust by setting up fake numbers, manipulating search results, spoofing caller IDs, and even merging calls to sound legitimate. Victims are often pressured into urgent actions or tricked into installing remote access apps.”

How do these fake numbers show up in search?

“Fraudsters game the system,” said Vivek Goyal, Co-founder and COO of LdotR. “They pay for search ads that put their numbers at the top. They flood the web with pages optimised for keywords like ‘customer care number,’ and create fake listings that mimic real businesses. Some even build websites that closely resemble official ones, making it tough to tell the difference.”

Once a victim calls, scammers coax them into revealing OTPs, banking credentials, or card numbers. Others are tricked into downloading malicious apps or making upfront payments for non-existent services.

How these scams work

According to cybersecurity expert Shubham Singh, the tactics are varied but effective:

📌Spoofed caller IDs to appear like banks, government offices, or well-known brands
📌Fake customer care numbers in search ads and pop-ups
📌Missed-call scams that trick victims into calling premium or fraudulent numbers
📌Targeting older adults, especially through tech support or government-themed fraud

Warning signs to watch for

🎯Urgent pressure to act immediately
🎯Payment requests via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers
🎯Pop-ups displaying phone numbers (legit warnings never include them)
🎯Calls requesting PAN, Aadhaar, OTPs, or banking info

Common scam tricks

📍Impersonating bank officials, police, or tech support
📍Running “refund” or “overpayment” schemes to reverse-steal money
📍Requesting remote access to fix non-existent problems
📍Using missed calls that incur high charges when returned

How to verify toll-free numbers

“Always treat numbers found through search engines with suspicion,” said Goyal.
“Double-check them on official websites. Legitimate customer care teams will never ask for OTPs or full card details.”

“Never trust the number that appears in a call, text, or pop-up,” warned Singh.
“Use trusted sources like your bank’s website, the back of your card, or official bills. While toll-free registries exist, presence alone doesn’t confirm legitimacy.”

What to do if you’ve been targeted

Hang up immediately. Do not press any keys or return the call. In case personal or financial information was shared, disconnect from the internet and run a malware scan. Change all your passwords, notify your bank immediately and report to cybercrime.gov.in.

How to stay safe

Only call numbers you have independently verified, and use spam call filters and carrier protections if needed. Experts recommend following trusted cybersecurity channels like Cyber Dost, CERT-IN, and others for alerts. Stay vigilant and report fraudulent communications on the Chakshu portal: https://www.sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/