Preventing Doorstep Scams and Phone Fraud

Common scams to know

Phone and message fraud - Bank or KYC calls: a caller says the account will be blocked unless the person updates details, shares an OTP, PIN or card number, or installs an app. - Fake officials and "digital arrest": callers pose as police, customs, tax or investigation officers, say a parcel with drugs or a crime is linked to the person, demand secrecy and money to "clear" the case, sometimes by video call from a fake office. Real agencies do not arrest or investigate people by video call, or demand money transfers over the phone. - Family emergency scams: a caller, or a message from an unknown number, claims to be a grandchild or relative in trouble, begging for urgent money and secrecy. - Prize, lottery and gift scams: you have won a prize, but must pay a fee or tax first. - Investment and "double your money" schemes, including fake trading apps, chit funds and cryptocurrency offers. - Loan app and credit scams. - Fake customer care numbers found through online searches for companies and services. - Remote-access scams: callers ask the person to install an app so they can "fix" a phone or bank problem, giving them control of the device. - SIM swap and Aadhaar or insurance renewal scams. - Charity and donation scams, especially after disasters. - Romance and friendship scams online.

Doorstep and in-person scams - Fake officials, meter readers, gas, water or society staff who ask to enter the home. - Jewellery polishing or "cleaning" tricks, where gold is swapped or stolen. - Distraction thefts, where one person talks while another enters. - Fake workers offering cheap repairs, then overcharging. - Fake police warning of thieves and asking you to remove your jewellery. - "Help me" strangers asking to use the phone or come in. - Fake delivery and courier requests asking for payment on delivery. - Salespeople pressing for expensive health products or insurance. - Trusted-person abuse: dishonest helpers, drivers, caretakers or relatives taking money; see hiring a home attendant checklist.

Warning signs that something is a scam

Teach these as a short list:

1. Urgency. "Do it now" or "within an hour". 2. Secrecy. "Do not tell anyone" or "do not tell your family". 3. Fear. Threats of arrest, closure of the account or legal action. 4. Requests for OTPs, PINs, passwords, card numbers or CVV. No genuine bank, government agency or company will ask for these. 5. Requests to transfer money to a "safe" account. 6. Requests to install an app or share the screen. 7. Unexpected prizes, refunds or too-good-to-be-true offers. 8. Payment by gift cards, cryptocurrency or unusual methods. 9. Callers who will not let you call back on a known number. 10. Unknown numbers, poor spelling, strange links. 11. A stranger who insists on entering your home.

Rules of thumb

• Stop. Do not act on the call. Hang up. Genuine organisations do not mind being called back on their official number.
• Never share an OTP, PIN, password or card details, with anyone, ever, even a bank employee.
• Do not click links or install apps from messages, calls or emails you did not expect.
• Do not send money to anyone you have not met in a situation you cannot verify, however urgent.
• Check with someone you trust first. A call to a family member takes two minutes, and can save a lifetime of savings.
• Call the organisation on the number printed on your card, passbook or official website, not the number given by the caller.
• If the caller claims to be police or an agency, end the call and phone the local police station or helpline directly; real agencies do not demand secrecy or payment by phone.
• A family emergency call: hang up, then phone the relative on their known number, or another family member, to check.
• Use a code word with the family for emergency requests for money.
• Trust your instinct: if it feels wrong, it probably is.

Protecting the doorstep

• Keep the door chain or latch on, and check through a peephole, window, intercom or doorbell camera before opening; see lock and door safety for seniors.
• Ask for identification and check it, by phoning the organisation on an independent number, or confirming with building security. Do not let anyone in who cannot be verified.
• Do not let strangers in, however plausible, official or polite. It is fine to say "Please come back when my son is here".
• Tell building security to announce all visitors, including delivery and repair staff; see safety in gated societies and apartments.
• Never hand over jewellery or valuables for cleaning or checking.
• Do not keep large amounts of cash or valuables where visible.
• Agree on trusted service providers and numbers for plumbers, electricians and gas, kept on a list near the phone.
• Tell neighbours to look out for unusual visitors.
• If someone is persistent, close the door and call a neighbour, security or 112.

Protecting the phone and money

• Use a phone with a spam filter or call-blocking app, and block repeated unknown callers. Registered Do Not Disturb preferences may reduce sales calls. Older adults may find a simple phone with caller ID easier; see amplified phones guide and phone accessibility features for seniors.
• Review banking safety: set low daily limits for transfers and UPI, turn on transaction alerts, and ask the bank about senior citizen safety options. A trusted family member can receive a copy of alerts, with consent. Use strong, unique PINs and do not write them on cards. See managing a parent's money safely.
• Do not give remote access to anyone.
• Keep the phone updated, and install apps only from official stores. See smartphone safety for elderly, cybersecurity tips for the elderly and internet safety rules for seniors.
• Use official channels to check any message: bank app, website typed manually, or branch.
• Be careful on social media and with friend requests from strangers.
• Keep records of important numbers and bank contacts by the phone.
• Do not make large financial decisions under pressure. Take a day, and talk to family or an adviser.
• Beware of "investment" and "pension" offers. Check with a registered adviser.

How the family can help without taking over

• Talk about scams openly, with examples, not lectures. Share stories from the news: "Did you hear about…?"
• Make it safe to ask: assure your parent that anyone can be fooled, that you will never scold, and that you want to hear about any suspicious call.
• Set up simple rules together: "If anyone asks for an OTP or money, hang up and call me."
• Agree limits and alerts on bank accounts, with your parent's consent.
• Call regularly, so that your parent has someone to check with.
• Keep an eye on changes: new secrecy, large withdrawals, unusual purchases, gift cards, unopened bills, anxiety about phone calls.
• Avoid taking control unless your parent is unable to decide. Respect their autonomy; if cognitive decline is affecting judgement, involve the doctor and consider legal arrangements; see legal basics: wills and power of attorney and dementia and money.
• Reduce isolation, since lonely people are more vulnerable to scammers who offer friendship; see loneliness and isolation in older adults.

If a scam happens

Act fast. Time matters, particularly for bank transfers.

1. Stop all contact with the scammer. 2. Call your bank immediately on its official number, report the fraud, ask them to block the card, UPI and net banking, and try to stop or reverse the transfer. 3. Report to the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 (in India, for financial cyber fraud) and file a complaint on the national cyber crime reporting portal; reporting within the first hours can help to freeze funds. Check the official portal for the current process. 4. Report to the local police, and file a written complaint. 5. Change passwords and PINs, remove any remote access app and have the phone checked. 6. Inform family and keep evidence: messages, call logs, screenshots, receipts, account details. 7. Do not pay anyone who offers to "recover" the money for a fee; this is a second scam. 8. For physical danger or an intruder, call 112. 9. Support the victim: be kind, not blaming. Shame stops people reporting. See anxiety in older adults if distress persists. 10. Review safeguards afterwards.

For information on services for senior citizens, call Elderline 14567.

When to ask a professional

Ask your bank about senior safety features and fraud procedures. Ask the local police or a cyber crime cell for advice on reporting. A lawyer can advise on recovering funds, powers of attorney and protecting assets. A doctor can assess memory and judgement if your parent seems newly vulnerable or confused. A counsellor can help with stress and shame after a scam. In an emergency, call 112.