New Delhi, Sep 23: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a nationwide alert warning citizens about a new eSIM-based scam through which fraudsters are siphoning off money from bank accounts within minutes.
According to officials, scammers pose as telecom representatives and trick users into sharing a one-time password (OTP) under the pretext of upgrading to an eSIM service. Once the OTP is shared, the fraudsters gain control over the victim’s mobile number by activating an eSIM on their own device. This allows them to intercept banking OTPs and quickly empty accounts through unauthorized transactions.
The I4C said multiple cases have been reported in recent weeks across states, with losses running into lakhs. The scam is particularly dangerous because victims lose mobile network connectivity soon after the fraudsters activate the eSIM, leaving them unable to receive alerts about transactions.
How to Stay Safe
Do not share OTPs or PINs: Telecom providers never ask for OTPs or confidential banking details over calls or messages.
Verify requests directly: If contacted about eSIM upgrades, call your telecom operator’s official helpline before responding.
Enable bank alerts: Keep SMS/email alerts active for every transaction.
Use multi-factor authentication: Where possible, link banking apps with device-based authentication such as biometrics.
Report immediately: In case of network loss combined with suspicious activity, contact your bank’s helpline and dial 1930 (National Cybercrime Helpline) to block further transactions.
The I4C has urged telecom operators to step up customer awareness campaigns and banks to tighten verification mechanisms for high-value transfers. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant, especially during festive seasons when cyber fraud attempts peak.
