eNews
NPCI urges seniors to stay sharp as digital payment scams surge
Simple rules to beat fraud and pay safely every day
GOA: Digital payments have revolutionised life for senior citizens, making grocery runs, pharmacy pickups, and travel bookings a breeze. Independence is back in fashion: no more hassling family for small daily spends. Cash stays in the wallet, risk of theft drops, and every transaction is neatly logged.
But where convenience thrives, scammers lurk. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting older users with cunning tricks. One common ruse is the so-called digital arrest scam. Fraudsters posing as law enforcement agents threaten arrest unless money or personal information is handed over. The rule of thumb: real authorities never call to collect cash or press for immediate action.
Investment fraud is another pitfall. Impersonators pose as financial experts, often dangling fake endorsements from reputed organisations and promising extraordinary returns. Once the money is transferred, the fraudsters vanish. If an investment sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Seniors are advised to check SEBI, RBI, or official regulatory websites for legitimacy before parting with a single rupee.
Phishing and vishing scams have also surged. Emails, texts, or calls impersonate banks or government agencies, coaxing seniors into revealing login details, OTPs, or passwords. Similarly, tech support scams exploit fear: callers claim a virus has infected your computer, tricking users into downloading files or apps that give hackers remote access to steal data.
Refund and payment link fraud is another trap. A seemingly harmless link promising a rebate or refund can instead route seniors to a fake page designed to steal login or payment information. The mantra here is simple: don’t click unknown links, and never install apps or give control to strangers posing as authorities.
The remedy is straightforward but vital. Never share UPI PINs, OTPs, passwords, bank details, or login credentials. Pause when urgency is created, accounts “blocked today”, SIMs “expiring”, pensions “paused”, all pressure tactics. Real institutions allow time for verification. Always verify unexpected legal or investment messages calmly, and involve family or trusted neighbours before acting on any instructions from unknown callers.
If fraud is suspected, seniors should report it immediately to the national cybercrime helpline (1930), the Department of Telecommunication portal (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/), and their bank. Save messages, take screenshots, and document every interaction.
Digital payments are powerful, safe, and here to stay. Stay alert, verify calmly, and swipe with confidence. Don’t give scammers the thrill, they’re fast, but you can be faster.
eNews
Swiggy sees record orders during India vs New Zealand T20 final
Chicken biryani tops match-day menu as fans order 7,500 times per minute at peak.
MUMBAI: India’s T20 final didn’t just break stumps, it broke Swiggy’s delivery records, proving cricket fans celebrate victories with plates, not just flags. Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, reported a sharp spike in food orders during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand. On 8 March 2026, overall orders rose 23.2 per cent year-on-year compared with the same date in 2025, driven by fans turning living rooms into mini stadiums complete with match-day feasts.
Key highlights from the evening:
- Orders during peak match hours (7–10 pm) were 2.1 times higher than pre-match levels.
- The highest order rate hit 7,500 orders per minute at 19:45.
- Chicken biryani reigned supreme as the most-ordered dish, followed by masala dosa, chicken fried rice, garlic breadsticks and paneer butter masala.
While metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad led volumes, the cricketing fever spread nationwide. Among emerging cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Surat and Rajkot recorded the strongest order growth. Smaller markets including Shillong, Agartala and Port Blair also showed significant appetite, underlining the expanding footprint of quick-commerce food delivery across India.
The surge reflects a growing trend of pairing major sporting events with doorstep delivery, turning big matches into shared, convenient celebrations. In a night where every boundary mattered, Swiggy proved the real MVP might just be the delivery partner who kept the snacks and the vibes flowing without missing a single wicket.
