{"id":18184,"date":"2025-07-11T16:36:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T11:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/?p=18184"},"modified":"2025-09-10T15:04:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:34:02","slug":"what-is-phishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/learn\/what-is-phishing\/","title":{"rendered":"Phishing: Meaning, Types, Examples & How to Stay Safe Online in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first nine months of 2024, Indians lost over <\/span>\u20b911,000<\/span><\/a><\/u> crore to cyber scams \u2014 a clear sign that online fraud is rising faster than ever. With UPI, net banking, and digital wallets now part of daily life, scammers are finding new ways to target you right on your phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the biggest threats behind these losses is <\/span>phishing<\/span><\/strong> \u2014 a simple but dangerous trick where someone pretends to be your bank, an e-commerce site, or even the government to steal your money.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has repeatedly warned that no bank will ever ask for your OTPs or passwords. Yet every day, people click suspicious links or share details over calls, losing their hard-earned money in seconds. Read on this guide to understand phishing meaning, how it works, and how you can stay one step ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Phishing<\/span><\/strong>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Phishing is<\/span><\/strong> an online fraud where someone tries to trick you into sharing sensitive information like passwords, OTPs, or your bank details. A common example you may have seen is a fake SMS saying your KYC is about to expire. The message pushes you to click a link or share your bank details immediately. Once you share them, the fraudster can wipe out your account.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phishing is <\/span><\/strong>one of the top online scams in India today. Knowing <\/span>what is phishing <\/span><\/strong>and how it works helps you stay alert.<\/span><\/p>\n

How <\/span>Phishing Works in <\/span>Cyber Security<\/span><\/strong>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Phishing is <\/span><\/strong>a social engineering trick. It works by playing with your emotions \u2014 mainly fear and urgency \u2014 to make you share private information.<\/span><\/p>\n

In India, scammers often use SMS, known as smishing, to pose as your bank. You may get a message saying your account will freeze if you don\u2019t update your KYC. Another method is fake alerts messages pretending to be official RBI updates or Aadhaar warnings, asking you to click a link to avoid penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Phishing<\/span><\/strong> Attacks in India<\/span><\/h2>\n

Email Phishing<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fake emails that look like they\u2019re from banks, e-commerce sites, or government portals An email claiming to be from your bank saying, \u201cWe\u2019ve detected suspicious activity \u2013 click here to verify your account.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

SMS Phishing (Smishing)<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fraud messages through SMS or WhatsApp A message saying, \u201cYour PAN card will be blocked \u2013 update details now: [link]\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Voice Phishing (Vishing)<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Scam calls pretending to be from your bank, telecom company, or police A caller saying, \u201cI\u2019m calling from your bank\u2019s fraud department. Please share your card number and OTP to stop a fake transaction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Spear Phishing<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Targeted attack on professionals or small businesses A fake email sent to an accounts team, pretending to be the boss, saying, \u201cTransfer \u20b975,000 to this vendor urgently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Clone Phishing<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

A copy of a real email you may have received earlier, but with a harmful link or file A duplicate delivery email saying, \u201cYour parcel is stuck \u2013 download the attached form to confirm delivery.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Real-Life Phishing Examples in India<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. UPI Fraud through Fake Google Pay or PhonePe Links<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sometimes, you may get a link on WhatsApp or SMS saying you will receive money through Google Pay or PhonePe. The link looks real, but when you click on it, it asks you to enter your UPI PIN. The moment you do that, instead of receiving money, the scammer takes money from your account.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>How to protect yourself:<\/span><\/strong> Always remember, you never need to enter your UPI PIN to <\/span>receive<\/span><\/em> money from anyone. If you get any link like this, check it properly and confirm who sent it. Do not trust payment links from unknown numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. SMS Claiming \u2018Your PAN Will Be Blocked by <\/span>IT<\/span> Department\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many people get fake messages saying that their PAN card will be blocked if they do not update their details immediately. These messages create panic and have a link that looks official. Once you click on it, it opens a fake website that collects<\/span> your personal information<\/span> and uses it to scam you later.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>How to protect yourself:<\/span><\/strong> The Income Tax Department never sends messages like this asking for personal details. Always check the sender\u2019s number or email ID. If you feel something is wrong, do not click on any link. Visit the official Income Tax website directly instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Fraud Calls From \u201cBank\u201d Asking for Debit Card Number<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>You might get a phone call from someone who says they are a bank employee. They may tell you that there is a problem with your debit card or account and ask you to share your card number, CVV, or OTP to fix it. Once you share these details, the fraudster can easily misuse your account.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>How to protect yourself:<\/span><\/strong> No bank will ever ask for your debit card number, CVV, or OTP over a phone call. If you get such a call, disconnect it immediately and call your bank\u2019s official customer care number to check if there is really any issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Fake Job Offers Requiring a Refundable Security Deposit<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Many job seekers receive emails or calls offering them a great job with a good salary. But before giving the job, the scammer asks for a \u2018refundable security deposit\u2019. Once you pay the money, they stop answering your calls or emails, and you lose your money.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>How to protect yourself:<\/span><\/strong> Always remember that genuine companies never ask for money to give you a job. If someone tells you to pay anything for an interview or appointment letter, it is a clear sign of fraud. Never share your personal documents or pay any deposit without verifying the company properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Identify a Phishing Message?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cCybersecurity is a continuous cycle of protection, detection, response, and recovery.\u201d<\/span><\/em> \u2013 <\/span>Christopher Painter, Founding Partner, The Cyber Policy Group<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use this simple checklist to spot phishing attempts in advance:<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, fraudsters even call you directly. They act like bank officials and ask for your UPI PIN<\/a> or OTP, saying it\u2019s needed to fix an urgent issue.<\/span><\/p>\n