Several people losing their savings to online scammers posing as police, Customs or CBI officials is not a new thing. People often also become the victim of cyberfraud and lose ther earnings by just clicking on a link received from an unknown number. Now, Zerodha‘s Nithin Kamath has shared a video and warned social media users against a new scam which could potentially drain bank accounts.
The video, made by Zerodha, explains the modus oprendi of scammers once they get hold of a phone, whom they target, and how people can protect themselves from such scams.
A video shows how an unknown person approaches people on the street asking for a phone to make an important call claiming that his phone battery had died. Some people refuse to give their phone to a stranger. However, a senior citizen handed over his phone when the stranger said he would take only one minute.
But it becomes too late for a person to realise that the act of kindness had actually emptied his bank account.
The 4.2-minute video also highlights that the phone is the key to digital life, messages, bank accounts and personal matters, but one emergency call scenario could prove a trap and make a person the victim of a financial trap.
“Imagine this: A stranger approaches you and asks to use your phone to make an emergency call. Most well-meaning people would probably hand over their phone. But this is a new scam,” said Kamath, sharing a video.
“From intercepting your OTPs to draining your bank accounts, scammers can cause serious damage without you even realizing it,” Kamath said in a post on X.
Several social media users have reacted to the post.
“These scamsters will erode whatever little public trust is left among people,” said an X user.
A user also urged Nithin Kamath to translate the video in several Indian languages to maximise its impact, as most of the scammers will probably use a local language to communicate with their target.
“The better thing to do is you can dial the number and let them talk on speaker,” suggested another user.
