Scammers are now exploiting fake toll-free numbers to trick unsuspecting users, especially those searching online for customer care. One wrong call could result in stolen money or sensitive data.

In this edition of The Safe Side , we explain why verifying helpline numbers before dialling is critical.

A 52-year-old man from Pathanamthitta, Kerala, lost Rs 95,000 after calling what he believed was the helpline of his water purifier company. He found the toll-free number online and dialled it—unaware it was fake.

The person on the other end, posing as a customer service executive, convinced him to install an app for “support.” That app gave the fraudsters full access to his phone. Within minutes, three unauthorised UPI transactions emptied his account.

Police confirmed that the numb

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