Online Scams & Fraud in India
Online scams & fraud have become a pervasive problem in India, affecting millions of individuals and businesses nationwide. According to the Global State of Scam Report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), India is among the top countries in the world for reported cases of online scams, with over 120 million reported cases of Fraud.
These statistics highlight the need for Indian internet users to be more aware of and vigilant about online fraud and scams. Join us as we uncover everything there is to know about Scams in India including where to report, how to check, and what kind of victim support to expect.
Scam Statistics in India
The key statistics on online fraud in India, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Population | 1.353 billion | 1.366 billion | 1.38 billion | 1.393 billion |
| Internet Penetration | 38% | 53% | 41% | 54% |
| # of Scams | 123 million | 120 million | 120 million | |
| Scams / 1,000 | 103 | 87 | 87 | |
| Money Lost | €13.8 billion | € 21 billion | € 14.5 billion | |
| Money Lost / Capita | € 11.50 | € 15.41 | € 15.42 | |
| Money Lost / Report | € 112.20 | € 175 | € 120.83 |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Where Can I Report a Scam in India?
- The Police: Visit the local police station to report any scams or cybercrimes. Be sure to bring as much information as possible. The Cyber Crime Helpline is 1930.
- The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal- They facilitate victims/complainants to report cybercrime in India.
- CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)-You can report all manner of cyber crimes and online scams here as they deal with cyber security threats and operations in India.
- The Union Home Ministry Helpline- You can dial the helpline at 155260 to report cybercrimes and online scams. The helpline is manned by state police and can be found in 7 states & union territories.
- National Consumer Helpline- Consumers can file a complaint against businesses here. You can call to register your grievance at 1800-11-4000 or 1915 or SMS this Number 8800001915.
How to Report a Scam in India
Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other relevant information. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in India
We are unaware of a fraud victim support organization in India.
How to Check for a Scam in India
Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.
- Securities and Exchange Board of India- Check here for investment scams and any other financial fraud as they offer investor awareness tips and guidance.
- Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)- You pay them a visit to check if business-related fraud.
Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities
- Competition Commission of India (CCI)- They help ensure that businesses engage in fair business practices and that consumers are not exploited by dominant players.
- Central Consumer Protection Authority- They work to ensure consumers' rights are protected.
Popular Scams in India
Online Payment Frauds
Thanks to the government's efforts to transition to a cashless economy, digital payment transactions have increased significantly in India during the past few years. However, there has been a rise in online payment fraud along with the use of digital payments.
Phishing, vishing, smishing, identity theft, and fraudulent mobile apps are a few of the frequent online payment crimes in India. These scam artists frequently employ social engineering techniques to get victims to divulge private information like bank account information, credit card information, and OTPs.
Someone willfully puts money into your account or Google Pay, then phones to inform you that it was an error and asks you to give the money back to their phone number. If you return the funds, your account will be compromised. Therefore, if someone receives money in an account by mistake, advise them to go to the local police station with identification to claim the money in cash. The government has repeatedly warned citizens to be extremely cautious about all types of digital fraud via numerous advertisement platforms, television, radio, and police social media handles.
Scam News From India
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As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the
