Fake calls use call-forwarding to access bank codes; police warn against unknown codes
PANAJI
A spate of courier-related frauds has panicked residents across Goa, where scammers posing as delivery agents have been deploying a deceptively simple phone trick to gain access to sensitive financial information – and, in at least one instance, responding with disarming levity when challenged.
As per various witnesses, the scheme begins with a call claiming a problem with a parcel delivery. The caller, presenting themselves as a representative of a courier service, persuades the recipient to “resolve” the issue by dialling a sequence beginning with *21*, followed by a mobile number and the hash key. The code, little understood by most users, activates call forwarding on the victim’s phone.
Once enabled, incoming calls including those from banks and services transmitting one-time passwords are silently redirected to the fraudster’s number. This allows scammers to intercept verification codes and, in some cases, gain unauthorised access to bank accounts or other digital services.
However, there were no such cases of filling illicit funds transfer reported till Tuesday evening amid these witnesses claiming they managed to detect the scam.
In another bizarre episode, the scammer was confronted by a would-be victim who realised the deception mid-call. Instead of disconnecting, the caller reportedly pivoted, asking for Rs 200 via a QR code for “samosa money”. This exchange too has drawn both amusement and concern over the audacity of such operations, or probably another attempt to steal the details for access to financial transactions.
With no complaint filed or suo motu action taken, officials in the cybercrime cell stated the tactic is an evolution from conventional OTP scams. “It’s not just about extracting information anymore but about rerouting it entirely,” one official said.
Police have already urged residents to avoid dialling unfamiliar codes at the behest of unknown callers and to immediately disable call forwarding settings if activated without intent. Users are also advised to report suspicious calls to cybercrime helplines.
