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RecoverWise
Scam types

Know what happened. Know what to do next.

Every scam type below lists the warning signs, the first steps to take today, and the evidence that will matter most.

Digital arrest / fake police, CBI or customs

You were told a parcel in your name contained drugs, or your Aadhaar or mobile number was linked to a crime, and were kept on a video call under “digital arrest” until you transferred money for “verification”.

Warning signs

  • • A video call from someone in uniform or in a fake police station
  • • Told not to tell family and not to disconnect
  • • Asked to move money to a “safe RBI account” for verification
  • • No Indian agency arrests anyone over a video call

Do this now

  1. Disconnect — “digital arrest” does not exist in Indian law.
  2. Call 1930 immediately and report on cybercrime.gov.in — fast reporting lets banks put a hold on funds.
  3. Call your bank’s fraud line and ask them to freeze the receiving account.
  4. Report the phone numbers on Sanchar Saathi (Chakshu).

Evidence to gather

  • • Caller numbers and WhatsApp/Skype IDs
  • • Screenshots of the video call or fake documents
  • • Bank / UPI transaction references (UTR numbers)
Open a case for this

Fake stock, IPO or trading app

You joined a stock-tips group or a fake “institutional account” app that showed big profits on IPOs or block deals, but withdrawals were blocked or needed a “tax” or “service charge”.

Warning signs

  • • Added to a WhatsApp or Telegram group run by a fake “professor” or fund manager
  • • App not available on official stock exchange / broker platforms
  • • Money paid to individual or random company bank accounts
  • • Withdrawals need a 20–30% “tax” or “commission” first

Do this now

  1. Stop paying — no “tax” or “fee” will release the displayed balance.
  2. Call 1930 and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with every UTR number.
  3. Check the entity on the SEBI intermediary list and complain via SEBI SCORES if they claim registration.
  4. Save the group chats, app name and APK link before they disappear.

Evidence to gather

  • • UTR / transaction references for every payment
  • • Screenshots of the app dashboard
  • • WhatsApp/Telegram group chats and admin numbers
  • • App name, website or APK link
Open a case for this

Crypto investment scam

You bought USDT or other crypto (often via P2P) and deposited it into a platform that showed growing profits, but withdrawals were blocked or required ever-larger “fees”.

Warning signs

  • • Guaranteed daily or weekly returns
  • • Withdrawals blocked until you pay a fee, tax or “verification deposit”
  • • Contact began on Instagram, a dating app or a “wrong number” message

Do this now

  1. Stop sending money — no further “fee” will release your funds.
  2. Never share your seed phrase or private keys with anyone, including us.
  3. Note every wallet address and transaction hash (TXID).
  4. Report on cybercrime.gov.in and inform the exchange (e.g. the Indian exchange you bought from).

Evidence to gather

  • • Transaction hashes / exchange withdrawal history
  • • P2P trade records and counterparty bank details
  • • Screenshots of the platform
  • • Chats with the contact
Open a case for this

Part-time job or task scam

You were offered work-from-home tasks like liking YouTube videos or rating hotels, received small payouts at first, then had to deposit your own money for “prepaid tasks” to unlock earnings.

Warning signs

  • • Unsolicited job offer on WhatsApp or Telegram
  • • Small initial payouts to build trust
  • • “Prepaid” or “merchant” tasks requiring deposits
  • • Earnings visible only inside their website or app

Do this now

  1. Stop depositing — the “earnings” cannot be withdrawn.
  2. Call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in with all UTR numbers.
  3. Save the Telegram usernames, group links and website URL.

Evidence to gather

  • • Job offer messages
  • • Task website screenshots
  • • UPI/bank transaction references for deposits and payouts
Open a case for this

UPI, OTP, KYC or bank fraud

Money left your account after you shared an OTP, approved a UPI collect request, installed a screen-sharing app, clicked a KYC or bill-payment link, or your SIM was swapped.

Warning signs

  • • SMS about KYC expiry, account block or electricity disconnection
  • • Asked to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer or a “support” APK
  • • Asked to enter your UPI PIN to “receive” money

Do this now

  1. Call your bank immediately and block cards, UPI and net banking.
  2. Report within 3 working days — under RBI rules your liability for unauthorised electronic transactions can be zero if reported promptly.
  3. Call 1930 and file on cybercrime.gov.in.
  4. Uninstall remote-access apps and change all banking and email passwords.

Evidence to gather

  • • Bank statement showing the debits
  • • The SMS / link / app you received
  • • Your complaint reference with the bank
Open a case for this

Loan app harassment or extortion

You took a small loan from an app — or never took one — and are being harassed for repayment, with threats to share morphed photos with your contacts.

Warning signs

  • • App not linked to an RBI-registered bank or NBFC
  • • Access to your contacts and gallery demanded
  • • Threats, abuse or morphed images sent to contacts

Do this now

  1. Don’t pay extortion demands — they rarely stop.
  2. Report on cybercrime.gov.in and to your local cyber cell.
  3. Revoke the app’s permissions and uninstall it.
  4. Warn close contacts that morphed images may be sent.

Evidence to gather

  • • App name and download link
  • • Threat messages and caller numbers
  • • Loan and repayment records
Open a case for this

Forex, binary options or unregulated broker

You opened an account with an online forex or binary-options platform or “account manager” who encouraged larger deposits, then losses appeared or withdrawals were refused.

Warning signs

  • • Platform appears on the RBI Alert List of unauthorised forex trading platforms
  • • Deposits taken via UPI to individual accounts
  • • Remote-access software installed to “help” you trade

Do this now

  1. Stop depositing and remove any remote-access software.
  2. Check the RBI Alert List and report the platform on RBI Sachet.
  3. Report on cybercrime.gov.in with every transaction reference.

Evidence to gather

  • • Bank / UPI statements showing deposits
  • • Platform account statements
  • • Chats and call logs with the “account manager”
Open a case for this

Romance, matrimonial or sextortion

A person you met on a dating, matrimonial or social app asked for money, gifts or investment — or recorded a video call and is now demanding money not to share it.

Warning signs

  • • Avoids meeting in person
  • • Sudden emergencies, customs fees for “gifts”
  • • Threats to share private videos with your contacts

Do this now

  1. Stop paying — paying sextortion demands usually leads to more demands.
  2. Don’t delete chats; take screenshots.
  3. Report on cybercrime.gov.in (there is a dedicated women/children section) and to the platform.
  4. Talk to someone you trust.

Evidence to gather

  • • Profile screenshots and usernames
  • • Chat exports
  • • Payment receipts
Open a case for this

Recovery scam

After an earlier scam you were contacted by — or found — a “recovery agent”, hacker, lawyer or “cyber cell officer” who took fees to get your money back, and nothing was recovered.

Warning signs

  • • Upfront fees, “taxes” or “release charges” before money is returned
  • • Claims of special access to police, courts or blockchains
  • • They contacted you first, knowing details of your loss

Do this now

  1. Stop all payments and contact.
  2. Report them as a separate crime on cybercrime.gov.in, including how they found you.
  3. Keep every invoice, UPI ID and message they sent.

Evidence to gather

  • • Invoices or “case files” they sent
  • • Payment proofs
  • • Their website, emails and phone numbers
Open a case for this

Online shopping or fake customer care

You paid for goods that never arrived, or a fake customer-care number found online took your money or account access.

Warning signs

  • • Prices far below market value
  • • Seller insisted on advance UPI payment
  • • Customer-care number found via search results or social media

Do this now

  1. Raise a dispute with your bank or card issuer immediately.
  2. Report the listing or website to the marketplace.
  3. Report on cybercrime.gov.in.

Evidence to gather

  • • Order confirmation
  • • Payment proof (UTR)
  • • Listing / website screenshots and seller profile
Open a case for this

Other online fraud

Any other online or digital fraud not covered above, including lottery, insurance, electricity-bill, inheritance or fake charity scams.

Do this now

  1. Stop contact and further payments.
  2. Save all evidence before it disappears.
  3. Call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in.

Evidence to gather

  • • Any messages, receipts and screenshots that show what happened
Open a case for this