Call Merging Scam Exposed: How Intruders Trick You Into Losing Money
People are tricked by scammers into merging calls, which causes them to unintentionally divulge their OTPs.
Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to defraud people, and one of the newest strategies to empty bank accounts is the ‘call merging scam’. If someone calls and says they have a great opportunity or a friend sends you a message regarding the same, you might want to reconsider.
This new scam uses social engineering to fool users into unintentionally disclosing their One-Time Password (OTP), a vital security measure in financial transactions and has caused the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to issue an urgent warning.
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Meanwhile, concerned authorities in India have warned people about this scam in which fraudsters deceive users into disclosing their One-Time Passwords (OTPs) without their knowledge by combining calls. This makes it possible for fraudsters to carry out unauthorised transactions and embezzle funds.
On its X (formerly Twitter) account, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) cautioned customers, saying, “Scammers are using call merging to trick you into revealing OTPs. Don’t fall for it! Stay alert and protect your money."
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Scammers are using call merging to trick you into revealing OTPs. Don’t fall for it! Stay alert and protect your money.
Call Merging Scam: Check How The Scam Works
The scam begins with a call from an unknown number, where the caller claims they got your contact from a friend. They then request you to merge the call, saying that your “friend" is trying to reach you from a different number.
Unknowingly, when the call is merged, the victim ends up connecting to a legitimate bank OTP verification call. The scammers time this perfectly, tricking the victim into sharing the OTP without realizing the deception. Once the OTP is provided, the fraudsters complete the transaction, resulting in financial loss for the victim. The scam starts with a call from an unknown individual who says they got your number from a friend. The scammer then requests that you merge the calls after stating that the “friend" is calling from a different number. When the call is merged, the unwary user unintentionally connects to a genuine bank OTP verification call.
The scammers time this just right so that the victim gives the OTP without recognising the fraud. Once the OTP is given, the scammers finish the transaction and the victim loses their money.
Call Merging Scam: Here’s How To Stay Safe
UPI has released the following safety advice to help you avoid falling for this scam:
– Calls from unknown numbers should never be merged:
When being asked to merge calls, exercise caution at all times, especially when the source is unknown.
– Check to see if the caller is legitimate:
Make sure you confirm the identity of anyone claiming to be from your bank or a known contact before taking action.
– Report any questionable OTPs:
Notify your bank and take the appropriate action right away if you receive an OTP for a transaction, you did not initiate by reporting it to 1930.
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