Your phone buzzes at 12.43 pm. A message flashes. “Dear eSBI user, your UPI ID will be blocked in two hours. Click here to update.” You pause. Should you tap the link? Should you ignore it? Should you call someone for advice? That hesitation is gold for a fraudster. Every day, con artists across India send out millions of such pings. They know some will be ignored. They also know a few thousand people will click in panic. And that is all they need.
We often think literacy is the ability to read and write. But in 2025, literacy must mean more. It must include scam literacy. Because the messages that arrive on your phone or inbox or WhatsApp are texts too. If you cannot read them critically, your savings are at risk.
International Literacy Day on September 8 is usually about schools and classrooms. Yet fraudsters are running their own classroom, teaching citizens hard lessons about greed, fear and haste. Last year alone Indians lost thousands of crores to scams ranging from fake KYC calls to Ponzi forwards. Victims included professionals, retirees and homemakers. Education levels did not protect them.
So here is something different. Not a preachy article. Not an expert interview. Instead, a simple test. Ten short questions, each based on a real scam. Each designed to make you pause and think. Answer them honestly. Give yourself one point for every correct response. At the end, check the scorecard and see where you stand.
Are you a Scambuster. Or a Sitting Duck. The clock is ticking.
The Quiz
UPI block intimation message-
SMS reads: “Your UPI ID XXXXX9876 will be blocked in 2 hours. Update here:
What is the real giveaway of this scam?
A. The domain uses extra words and does not match your bank
B. Banks cannot suddenly block your UPI ID with a random SMS
C. Urgency with a time limit is designed to scare you
D. All of the above
Bank KYC email-
Subject line: “Immediate action required. Verify your SBI KYC or risk account suspension.” The mail asks you to click a link and enter your login ID and password.
Which is correct?
A. Banks never ask for login details via email
B. Threat of suspension is a pressure tactic
C. Presence of a logo cannot be proof of authenticity
D. All of the above
WhatsApp investment offer forward-
Message reads: “Invest ₹5,000. Earn ₹100 every day. Limited slots. Join Telegram group of ABC Money Investments, a Sebi-registered platform.”
What is the red flag?
A. Daily assured returns are impossible in regulated investments
B. SEBI registration can be checked through official websites
C. Both A and B
D. Such schemes are risky but not always illegal
Forgotten insurance policy call-
Someone with what looks like a LIC caller ID says, “We found a lapsed LIC policy in your name from 2009. Maturity ₹2.5 lakh due. Your father’s name is Ramesh, correct? So, kindly confirm PAN and Aadhaar to release the funds.”
What is suspicious?
A. Genuine insurers will never pay out a policy you did not revive
B. Fraudsters mix real KYC details with fake policy claims
C. Caller ID can be masked to look like an LIC official
D. All of the above
Forgotten insurance policy call-
Someone with what looks like a LIC caller ID says, “We found a lapsed LIC policy in your name from 2009. Maturity ₹2.5 lakh due. Your father’s name is Ramesh, correct? So, kindly confirm PAN and Aadhaar to release the funds.”
What is suspicious?
A. Genuine insurers will never pay out a policy you did not revive
B. Fraudsters mix real KYC details with fake policy claims
C. Caller ID can be masked to look like an LIC official
D. All of the above
Friendly loan app-
An online ad from Bajaj Finservv says: “Instant loan ₹2 lakh. Aadhaar photo only.”
What should alert you?
A. Large loans without income proof are not possible in regulated lending
B. Many fake apps mimic names of NBFCs that sound legitimate
C. Asking only for Aadhaar photo is a red flag
D. All of the above
Digital arrest video call-
You get a video call showing a police station backdrop. An officer says drugs were found in a consignment with your name and address for delivery. Pay ₹1.5 lakh as penalty or face arrest.
Which is true?
A. Police never conduct arrests through video calls
B. Demanding money is itself proof of a scam
C. Set up and costume are used to create panic
D. All of the above
Forwarded image/picture-
You receive a forwarded picture. “Click to see shocking update.” Once opened, your phone freezes and your contacts get spammed.
What really happened?
A. Image carried embedded malware
B. Forwarded media files from unknown sources are unsafe
C. Both A and B
D. If your antivirus did not alert you, it must be safe
Employment offer mail-
Email comes from a legitimate looking company domain. “Congratulations. You have been selected for a top MNC role. Pay a registration fee of ₹2,500 to confirm.”
Which is correct?
A. Employers never ask for money upfront
B. Placement frauds often use logos and offer letters to appear genuine
C. Both A and B
D. If it came from a company domain email, it must be genuine
Credit card limit upgrade text-
Message comes from what looks like HDFC Bank says. “Double your card limit instantly. Click this link.”
Which is right?
A. Clicking insecure links can steal credentials
B. Banks may send upgrade SMS, but the link will always be official and secure
C. Both A and B
D. The offer must be genuine if the sender ID shows your bank name
Lottery prize claim call-
Caller says. “You have won ₹50 lakh. Pay ₹15,000 tax and we will release the money.”
Which is true?
A. Lotteries deduct TDS at source, they do not ask you to pay separately
B. A tax demand before prize release is a scam red flag
C. Both A and B
D. If the caller provides a government form, it must be genuine
Scoring system
Give yourself one point for every correct answer
8 to 10 points: Scambuster
You are sharp. You read carefully, spot tricks quickly and rarely panic. Fraudsters will have a hard time with you
5 to 7 points: Fence-sitter
You know some tricks but can still be caught off-guard. A moment of greed or hurry could trip you up. Stay alert
0 to 4 points: Sitting Duck
You are a prime target. Fraudsters love people who click first and think later. Build scam literacy fast before it costs you
Published on September 6, 2025
