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The scams going after students in India

Six patterns cover the overwhelming majority of what reaches a student’s phone. Learn to recognise these and you’ve covered most of the ground.
The library

Start with the one that reached you

Every guide follows the same shape: a reconstruction of the real message with the giveaways marked, how the scam works step by step, and what to do if it already happened.
01
Most reported by students
Money lost upfront

Fake job & internship offers

A message says you’ve been selected for a work-from-home internship you never applied to. The stipend is generous, the company sounds real, and there’s a small “refundable registration fee” standing between you and the job.
How it works, and what gives it away →
02
Fastest to lose money
Seconds to happen

UPI collect request fraud

Someone sends you a payment request dressed up as a refund, cashback or prize. Approving it and entering your PIN doesn’t bring money in — it sends money out. The whole scam rests on one misunderstanding about how UPI works.
How it works, and what gives it away →
03
Highest amounts lost
Hours of pressure

“Digital arrest” calls

A video call from people in uniform claiming your Aadhaar is linked to a money laundering case. You’re told you’re under “digital arrest”, must stay on camera, and must not tell your parents. None of that is a real thing.
How it works, and what gives it away →
04
Bank account emptied
Very common

OTP & KYC phishing

“Your account will be blocked today — update your KYC.” The link goes to a page that looks like your bank but isn’t. Then someone calls, sounding helpful, and asks you to read out the OTP that just arrived.
How it works, and what gives it away →
05
Most under-reported
Support available

Sextortion & video-call blackmail

A friendly stranger, a video call within minutes, then a demand for money and a threat to send a recording to your contacts. It is extortion, it is a crime against you, and there is a clear way out of it.
How it works, and what gives it away →
06
Identity theft risk
Peak around results

Fake scholarship & result sites

A portal that looks official promises money to every student, asks for your Aadhaar and bank details, and charges a small processing fee. The domain is one character away from the real thing.
How it works, and what gives it away →
Specific cases

Recent scams, organised by type

Shorter write-ups of individual cases as they come in, grouped under the pattern they belong to. This section grows over time — start with the category that matches what reached you.

Job & Internship Scams

Fake offers, registration fees and bogus HR.

Browse this section →

UPI & Payment Fraud

Collect requests, QR tricks and PIN misuse.

Browse this section →

OTP & Phishing

Fake bank messages and lookalike sites.

Browse this section →

Digital Arrest & Fake Police

Fake officers, warrants and “verification” transfers.

Browse this section →

Sextortion & Blackmail

Video-call traps and threats to your contacts.

Browse this section →

Scholarship & Result Scams

Lookalike portals and fee-charging schemes.

Browse this section →

Loan App & Investment Scams

Predatory lending apps and fake returns.

Browse this section →

Marketplace & Delivery Scams

Resale fraud, fake couriers and delivery OTPs.

Browse this section →
Recently added

Latest case studies

  • October 22, 2026

Why Real Internships Never Ask You to Pay (And What to Do If You Already Paid)

If an internship asks you to pay upfront, treat it as a fake internship scam, because genuine...

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Instagram sextortion scam
  • October 17, 2026

Instagram Sextortion Scam: What to Do If You’re Being Blackmailed (Snapchat too)

An Instagram sextortion scam is when someone, usually behind a fake profile, gets a private photo or...

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Sextortion scams in India
  • October 11, 2026

Sextortion in India: What It Is and What Students Should Do If They Are Targeted

Sextortion is a type of blackmail that uses intimate photos, videos, or a recorded video call as...

Read it
Bank KYC Scam
  • October 2, 2026

Bank KYC Scam: How to Spot Fake Calls, SMS, and Update Links

A bank KYC scam uses fake calls, SMS, or links to trick you into sharing banking details...

Read it
Courier Delivery Scam
  • September 29, 2026

Courier Delivery Scams on WhatsApp and Telegram: How to Spot Them and What to Do

A courier delivery scam is a fake parcel message or call, often arriving on WhatsApp or Telegram,...

Read it
  • September 21, 2026

Digital Arrest Scam: A Fake Police Is On Your Screen. Here’s How to Hang Up

A digital arrest scam is a fake call from someone pretending to be police, CBI, customs, or...

Read it
Crypto Recovery Scam
  • September 13, 2026

Crypto Recovery Scam: Don’t Let Fake Agents Scam You Twice

A crypto recovery scam usually starts with a hopeful message – “We found your stolen crypto. Pay...

Read it
Telegram Investment Scam
  • September 10, 2026

How Fake Telegram Investment Scam Groups Scam Victims Out of money

A Telegram investment scam rarely begins with an obvious request for money. It begins with a group...

Read it
Diagram explaining how a fraudulent UPI collect request scam works
  • September 9, 2026

How Fraudulent UPI Collect Requests Work and How to Avoid Approving One

A fraudulent UPI collect request is one of the most common social engineering traps targeting digital payment...

Read it
Not on the list?

New ones appear constantly

These six are the patterns, not the complete list. If something reached you that isn’t here, send it to us — reader reports decide what we write next, and it may help someone in your college next week.
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