NPCI urges seniors to stay sharp as digital payment scams surge

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.