How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Fraud

Even if you're not a fraudster, your account can get entangled in a cyber fraud case. Here's how to protect yourself.

Be careful what you receive: - Never accept money from strangers offering "jobs" that involve forwarding payments. - Be wary of unexpected large credits from unknown accounts. - If you receive money you didn't expect, contact the sender for documentation before spending it.

UPI safety: - Don't share your UPI PIN with anyone. - Verify UPI payment requests before approving — especially "collect requests" which deduct money from you. - Scammers sometimes ask you to "scan and pay" for a refund — this actually charges you.

OTP and banking credentials: - Never share OTPs with anyone, including people claiming to be from your bank or RBI. - RBI, banks, and police will never ask for your PIN, OTP, or passwords. - Enable transaction alerts for all debit and credit transactions.

If you suspect fraud: - Call your bank's helpline immediately to freeze your own account temporarily. - Report to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline). - File a complaint at your nearest police station. - Act within 24 hours — the faster you report, the higher the chance of recovery.

Keep your KYC updated: An outdated KYC can lead to account restrictions. Update your documents at the bank every few years, or immediately after any address or identity changes.

Document everything: Keep records of large transactions — sale deeds, invoices, salary slips, loan documents. If your account is ever questioned, having these readily available resolves things quickly.