5 days ago
How Scammers Use Urgency to Defraud People—and Ways to Stay Safe
Some scammers pretend to be delivery workers, callers, or people offering prizes.
They may try to make someone feel worried or rushed so that person shares a secret code.
One professional, called Prerna in the article, shared a cancellation code with someone who came to her apartment about an order she had not made.
Her family told her this could be a scam, so she changed her bank and payment-app security details.
Researchers at IIT Madras found that even educated people can be tricked.
The article says people should never share one-time passwords or other secret codes.
If a suspicious request arrives, refuse an unexpected delivery and report suspected fraud.
People can call 1930 or use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Scammers may use fake offers, impersonation, and delivery-related cancellation OTP requests to pressure people into sharing sensitive information.
A working professional identified as Prerna (name changed) shared that she gave a purported delivery partner a cancellation OTP for an order she had not placed.
Her family warned her about the risk, and she changed her bank passwords and UPI PINs; the article says this helped avert potential harm.
An IIT Madras researchers’ study found that even highly educated and digitally experienced people can be vulnerable to financial cyber fraud.
The Ministry of Home Affairs reported more than 65.89 lakh financial-fraud complaints involving over ₹55,050 crore on the national reporting portal from 2021 to 2025.
- Who
- People in India targeted by financial cyber fraud; the article describes a working professional identified as Prerna and includes advice from advocate Vijay Pal Dalmia.
- What
- Scammers use tactics including fake offers, impersonation, and cancellation OTP requests to defraud people.
- Where
- India.
- When
- The government figures cited cover 2021–2025; the article does not state when Prerna’s incidents occurred.
- Why
- Scammers use fear, stress, and urgency to make people less able to assess suspicious requests.
Recommended precautions
Scammers’ tactics
Cancellation OTPs for unexpected deliveries
Recommended precautions
The article advises refusing an unexpected delivery and never sharing its OTP.
Scammers’ tactics
Scammers may pose as delivery partners and request a cancellation OTP, presenting the request as routine.
Responding to suspected fraud
Recommended precautions
Consumers are advised to report suspicious activity, preserve evidence, and change passwords and secure accounts.
Scammers’ tactics
Scammers use fear, stress, and urgency to pressure victims into acting before they can assess a request.
Key facts
- Reported complaints
- More than 65.89 lakh financial-fraud complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal between 2021 and 2025.
- Reported amount
- More than ₹55,050 crore involved in complaints over 2021–2025.
- 2021 figures
- 2.62 lakh complaints and ₹551 crore reported.
- 2025 figures
- 24.02 lakh complaints and ₹22,495 crore reported.
- Reporting helpline
- 1930.
- Scam types mentioned
- Digital arrest, courier or parcel, UPI collect request, KYC update, and investment or stock-trading scams.
- Safety advice
- Never share OTPs; use multi-factor authentication, secure accounts, and report suspicious activity.
Quotes
Vijay Pal Dalmia
Advocate and Senior Partner at Vaish Associates, who shares advice on avoiding and reporting cyber fraud.
“Consumers in India can stay safe from cyber fraud by guarding sensitive credentials, avoiding unverified links, and immediately reporting suspicious activity to the national helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.”
livemint.com
Sources
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