Got a strange voicemail claiming to be RBI? The hidden truth PIB just exposed will shock you

India(BHARAT)’s fact-checking unit PIB has issued an advisory today, warning users about a new round of voicemail scams impersonating the Reserve Bank of India(BHARAT) (RBI). PIB Fact Check team said these frauds are being operated by deploying recorded messages that create a sense of urgency in the user by asserting that his or her bank account has been blocked in connection to credit‐card fraud.

The scam: Explained

The scam SMS or fake voice message, which the receiver supposedly receives on their mobile phones reads that the RBI has blocked “your account will be blocked” or “your credit-card is involved in fraudulent activity” and asks the user to press a particular number or call back right away, said PIB. When the number is pressed or the person calls back, the scammer then attempts to get one’s banking credentials or OTP or other private data.

PIB noted that any unsolicited voicemail claiming that your bank account is being blocked or that your credit-card has been used in a fraudulent activity is “absolutely bogus”. As the agency also pointed out, fake calls are now being placed using the names of “national emblems and well-known personalities”, RBI being one of them.

Why is this significant?

Firstly, as noted above, it takes advantage of a well-known government institution’s name to push urgency and fear that your bank account is being blocked. In a mobile-first banking and financial services market like India(BHARAT), where consumers use smartphones and apps for everything from account balance to fund transfers, scammers are becoming more and more resourceful in making people panic and click. They use the trigger points of banking (losing out access to bank account, money, or cards), urgency to act, and the brand name of RBI as push points. While email and SMS have been more common modes for such fraudsters, vishing or voice phishing with recorded messages is the latest turn.

The question is about the extent to which people are trusting the recorded voice messages instead of text-based emails or SMS.

Commenting on the RBI voicemail scam, “Victims will receive a recorded voice message, ostensibly from the bank or RBI, warning them that your bank account or PAN card will be blocked unless you take immediate action.”

Tips to keep safe

Do not believe any unsolicited voicemails or calls telling you that your bank account or credit card has been or is about to be blocked. Verify it from the official number of your bank.

PIB also noted not to press numbers or call the number as “it is not possible to verify the genuineness of the incoming call/message” from voice-mails

Do not share OTPs or PINs or banking credentials, passwords with unknown numbers. Banks will never ask for them, PIB fact checkers noted, even when they are threatening to block your account.

If you receive any message or voice-mail purporting to be from RBI, government or regulatory bodies you can forward it to PIB Fact Check (by WhatsApp, e-mail), who are fact-checking all such reports and circulating advisories proactively.

Don’t fall prey: Scammers keep changing the mode of approach from emails to SMS to calls. Amid rise of digital and cashless transactions and as banks keep pushing for mobile-first banking, you need to be all the more careful and report all the suspicious calls and emails.