4 Crucial Steps to Take to Protect your Family from Cyber Fraud

Bring up the subject of fraud in a social setting today, and everyone at the table will have a story to tell. There’s always an aunt who lost money or an uncle who received a suspicious phone call and immediately identified it as fraudulent, and disconnected the call. 

This is the reality we navigate today. That said, with the continued efforts of regulators, law enforcement, and other key stakeholders, we’ve made progress in curbing fraud this year. As per provisional government data, India witnessed 13.42 lakh UPI fraud incidents amounting to Rs. 1,087 crore in FY24, which fell to 12.64 lakh amounting to Rs. 981 Crore in FY25.

To continue this momentum, we’re beginning the year with a comprehensive guide to help you safeguard your family against cyber threats.

1. Understand the Threat

Digital fraud includes various techniques such as phishing, identity theft, and introduction of malware in your device. Scammers use deceptive media such as fraudulent emails, texts, and phone calls, to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords or banking details.

2. Spot Common Scams

Some fraud tactics are very well known, while others are relatively new. However, all these methods have an underlying similarity – the scam often begins with a malicious phone call, text, or e-mail. Help your family develop healthy skepticism toward unexpected communications.

Look for these red flags:

• Urgency or Threats: Scammers create panic to force quick, unthinking action.
• Requests for Sensitive Info: Legitimate organizations never ask for passwords, CVVs , or OTPs.
• Suspicious Links: Always check the URL of a link to see if it’s from an actual bank or institution. You can always hover over a link to see the destination URL before clicking.
• The Police or your bank will never ask you to withdraw money, reveal your full PIN, or provide cash for “fingerprint checking”.
• Phone Scams: If a caller uses threats of arrest or asks for “fines” via cash transfer, it is a scam. Consider registering with a Telephone Preference Service to reduce unsolicited calls.
• Doorstep Callers: It is always okay to say “no thank you” to unexpected callers offering services. Never sign for services on the spot,always get multiple written quotes. Avoid sharing personal information unless extremely necessary. Fraudsters can use this data to create new identities or crack the code to your password. 

3. Secure Your Accounts and Devices

• Strong Passwords: Use a unique combination of letters, numbers, and symbols for every account.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA whenever possible for essential extra layers of security.
• Automatic Updates: Keep operating systems and apps updated to patch known security vulnerabilities.
• Regular Backups: Back up important files to an external drive or trusted cloud service on a monthly basis.
• Antivirus/Malware protection: Run an effective malware/antivirus check regularly.

If you suspect your information has been compromised, report fraud immediately.

4. Empower the Next Generation

Teaching children about online safety is vital. Make it a routine to talk about:

• Privacy: Why they shouldn’t share personal information or talk to strangers in chats.
• Parental Controls: Use tools to block inappropriate sites and set healthy screen time limits.
• Open Communication: Encourage them to come to you immediately if something online feels “off”.
• Empower, Not Control: Help the child understand the digital world rather than simply restricting access.
• Family Code Word: In the time of AI scammers, it’s important to have a common code word in the family to avoid being emotionally and financially scammed by fraudsters using AI.

How to Report 

If you suspect you have been targeted by a scam, report it immediately:

Reporting on PhonePe:

• PhonePe App: Go to the Help section and raise a complaint.
• PhonePe Customer Care: Call 80-68727374 / 022-68727374.
• Social Media Reporting:
  • Twitter: PhonePe Support
  • Facebook: PhonePe Official
• Grievance Redressal: File a complaint at PhonePe Grievance Portal.

Reporting to Authorities:

• Cyber Crime Cell: File a complaint online at Cyber Crime Portal or call 1930.
• Department of Telecommunications (DOT): Report suspicious messages, calls, or WhatsApp /Telegram fraud via the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi Portal.

Building a Culture of Safety

Digital safety is a shared responsibility. By staying proactive, leveraging technology like MFA, and maintaining a healthy skepticism, you can protect your inner circle and contribute to a safer digital ecosystem for everyone.

Important reminder — PhonePe never asks for confidential or personal details. Ignore all mails claiming to be from PhonePe if they are not from the phonepe.com domain. If you suspect fraud, please contact the authorities immediately.