Paytm Request Money Fraud: How To Stay Safe And Secure
Mobile payments company Paytm is warning users to be careful about calls and SMS asking about KYC. “If you have received any SMS/call asking you to download any app for KYC completion then please do not trust these communications, these are fraudsters attempting to get your details. In the last couple of months, fraudsters have come up with a new way,”
What you must know about the KYC process of Paytm:
Paytm KYC can only be completed only at authorised KYC points or by a Paytm representative at your doorstep. Any SMS sent by Paytm regarding KYC will only have a link to fix an appointment with our KYC agents or find the nearby KYC points. Paytm Full KYC can only be completed by having a face to face meeting with our agent at an authorized KYC point. Paytm will never call you and ask you to install any app.
“We never send any SMS/Email for Paytm Minimum KYC. You do not need any support to complete your Minimum KYC with Paytm, it is a DIY process. A Paytm employee will never ask you for any of your PIN, OTP, Password, Password reset link, Debit/Credit card CVV or PIN or bank details. When a Paytm agent comes to complete your KYC do check their ID card,” clarified the company.
So, how does this scam happen?
Someone will call you pretending to be from the Paytm customer support team and will tell you to get your KYC done to continue using Paytm. The so-called customer care executive to scam people will force you to download the AnyDesk or QuickSupport on your mobile phone.
“If you are being contacted stating that ‘your KYC has been completed and now to receive cashback or offer, you will receive an SMS with a link, to avail the offer click the link’, then always ensure that you do not click such links and delete such messages. At Paytm we never send you an SMS with a link to avail any offer or none of the Paytm employees will do so,” Paytm said in an official statement.
After downloading any of the remote desktop apps, the fraud caller simply needs the remote access desk code and so will ask for it. Once, you give the 9-digit or 10-digit code to the fraud customer care executive, the fraud caller will get to see your mobile screen on his PC and he can even record it. Through these apps, whatever you do your mobile screen automatically gets recorded on the PC of the fraud caller.
The moment you do any online transaction from UPI, Paytm, mobile banking, the credentials get stolen. As fraudster can see whatever you are doing on the mobile, the moment you type the ID/password of the banking or UPI app, the fraudster simply notes it down.
It is highly advisable not to download any remote desktop apps without understanding how they work. Also, never download additional apps that any customer care/support executive may ask you to do so as authentic customer care executives will never ask anyone to download apps or send codes, passwords or any other information.
Meanwhile, note that remote desktop apps like these are not any malware or fraud app. In fact, apps like AnyDesk or TeamViewer QuickSupport are quite useful if used for the right purposes. However, if you do not understand how remote desktop work then simply stay away.