Zerodha warns how you may lose all your bank savings by giving phone to a stranger for that ‘just one call’


Zerodha warns how you may lose all your bank savings by giving phone to a stranger for that 'just one call'

Zerodha, a financial services company, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to alert people about a new scam that exploits their kindness. The company shared a post explaining how scammers approach individuals, asking to borrow their phones for an emergency call. The post states, “The ‘simple act of kindness’ by lending your phone might seem harmless, but it can cause serious damage.”
Zerodha’s message aims to raise awareness about this scam and prevent people from falling victim to it.

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By sharing this information on social media, the company hopes to reach a wide audience and protect them from potential financial harm.
The scam relies on the goodwill of unsuspecting individuals who believe they are helping someone in need. However, by handing over their phones, they may inadvertently grant scammers access to sensitive information or enable them to carry out fraudulent activities.
Zerodha’s post serves as a reminder for people to remain vigilant and cautious when approached by strangers requesting to use their phones, even if the reason seems genuine. The company encourages individuals to prioritize their own security and protect their personal information.
“Have you ever handed over your phone to a stranger in need of “just one call”? This simple act of kindness could cost you your entire savings. From intercepting your OTPs to draining your bank accounts, scammers can cause serious damage without you even realizing it. In this video, we explain how these scammers operate, who they target, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself,” the post says.

How giving phone to strangers can scam you

The post also has a video explaining how these scams work, identifying the common tactics scammers use, their target demographic, and the crucial steps people can take to protect themselves from falling victim. Called the ‘Quick Call Trap’, the scam begins when you hand over your smartphone to a stranger for a quick call. The stranger, who requested your smartphone on the pretext of emergency, then installs a suspicious app or accesses your payments apps like GPay, Paytm to get personal information. They can also change settings on your phone to forwards your calls and messages to their number.
Initially, victims may not see any signs of tampering on their phone. But once these scammers have access to your calls and messages, they intercept OTPs, passwords or your personal information to make unauthorized transactions from your bank accounts. These fraudsters may also change passwords of your banking apps or social media accounts — all without the victim realizing it.
The video further warns that typical targets of these scams are those who “are less comfortable with technology”.

How to stay safe against Quick Call Trap scams

Some of the tips are:

  • Never hand your phone to strangers
  • If you do, make the call yourself and put the call on speaker for them to talk
  • Check your phone’s setting regularly. Make sure any call forwarding is disabled
  • Never share OTPs with others





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