Be Alert: Safeguard Yourself Against Merge Call Scams

The rise of digital communication faces many scams, fraudsters constantly develop new ways to deceive unsuspecting individuals. One of their tactics is Merge Call Fraud, where scammers trick the customer into joining a call that will lead to unauthorized access or financial loss. In this blog, we explain to you about this scam and the steps you can take to stay protected.  

What is a Merge Call Fraud? 

Merge Call Fraud is a type of scam where fraudsters trick the customers by merging their calls allowing them to bypass security measures (OTP verification or voice authentication, etc.).  

How does a Merge Call Fraud Happen? 

The fraudster initiated a call; 

As we said the scam begins with a phone call from a fraudster to the victim, they obtained their number from a mutual friend or relative of the victim. They gain trust by referring to job offers, the sale or renting of property, the purchase of a new gadget or vehicle, etc.  

Tricking the victim into merging calls;  

The fraudster persuades the victim to merge the call with another incoming call, claiming it’s from a mutual friend or relative. And they believe that the call is from their friend/relative.  

Interception of the OTP; 

The merged call is an authorized OTP verification call from the victim’s bank. The fraudster triggers an OTP request by initiating a transaction/service (eg., for account access, UPI transactions, or SMS swap). The timing is carefully planned so that when the bank’s automated system requests the OTP, the victim’s phone automatically reads it aloud during the merged call. 

Fraudster hears the OTP; 

Since the call is already merged, the fraudster can hear the OTP. With the OTP in hand, the fraudster carries out unauthorized transactions, resulting in financial losses in the victim’s account.   

How to stay safe? 

🔸 Ignore Unsolicited Calls: If you receive these types of calls, avoid engaging with the caller and disconnect the call immediately. Always remember never to merge calls with unknown numbers.  

🔸 Verify Official Contacts: Verify these calls by contacting your friend/relative who the fraudster claims to get your contact from. 

🔸 Enable Smart Lock: Lock your cards, Internet Banking, and UPI transactions.  

🔸 Never Share OTPs or PINs: Remember that banks never ask for OTPs or PINs over calls or messages. Enable multi-factor authentication on accounts. 

🔸 Never share your personal information, such as your Credit Card number or UPI PIN, with anyone.  

🔸 Do not trust a call or an e-mail that asks for your personal information. 

🔸 Have a strong and unique password, that includes upper-case, lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.  

🔸 Always read communication sent by banks or financial institutions with fraud-related information.  

🔸 If you receive a call or an e-mail asking for bank details for KYC/ReKYC or any other purpose, immediately visit the nearest Branch or call your Relationship Manager for assistance.  

How to Report Fraud? 

If you’ve been targeted, reach out to the National Cyber Crime Helpline at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 for immediate assistance.  

Staying informed and alert is the first stage of defending Merge Call Fraud. Keep in mind that always verify unknown numbers, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspicious activity immediately. Together we stay safe from fraudsters! 

Stay updated on the latest fraud trends and learn how to safeguard yourself. Visit Navia today for more tips and stay one step ahead of fraudsters! 

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