With the increase in online fraud, people are becoming increasingly exposed to all types of scams. One such alarming threat is the call merging scam that has recently been marked by the National Payments Corporation of India as a matter of concern. The NPCI has issued an alert regarding this increasing threat, as scammers identify a call merging scam to duped unaware victims.
What is Call-Merging Scam?
As per NPCI on X: CALL MERGING SCAM ALERT! Here's how your OTP and money are being deceived by the scamsters. The unknown person invites you to an event or offers something and makes a call to the victim telling him/her that he/she has your number through a friend. The fraudster then asks you to merge the call since the friend is making the call on a different number. But it's not your buddy, it's a call from your bank to verify the OTP. The fraudster calls at the right time, causing the victim to unknowingly provide the OTP, which is utilized to make unauthorized transactions.
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Tips to Stay Safe
When you receive calls from unknown numbers, always exercise caution to protect yourself from the call merging scam. If someone tells you to merge a call with someone you do not know, do not do that. Be cautious if the caller claims to be someone you know and requests you to merge calls or share your OTP. Always verify the caller's identity before revealing any sensitive information, particularly your OTP.
In case you have an OTP for a transaction not initiated by you, don't overlook it. Report it to the NPCI helpline number 1930. These simple steps help you save yourself from scams and secure your financial data.
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If you've been scammed, inform your bank and authorities as soon as possible. Quick action will ensure you avoid any additional loss. Always be alert to secure your data.
