TL;DR: Vishing (voice phishing) in India refers to scam phone calls where fraudsters impersonate a bank, RBI, or government official to pressure victims into revealing banking details, OTPs, or transferring money. Banks and RBI never call asking for your OTP, PIN, or CVV. Hang up and call your bank back using the number on your card or their official website, never a number the caller gives you.
Vishing (voice phishing) in India refers to scam phone calls where fraudsters impersonate a bank, RBI, or government official to pressure victims into revealing banking details, OTPs, or transferring money.
How Vishing Calls in India Works
A caller claims to be from your bank, RBI, or a payment app's support team, citing a fake issue like a blocked account, unauthorized transaction, or KYC problem. Using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate, they create urgency and ask the victim to share their card number, CVV, OTP, or to install a remote-access app to "fix" the issue.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Pressure to act immediately over the phone, a request for your OTP, CVV, or UPI PIN (banks never ask for these), and a request to install a screen-sharing or remote-access app.
How to Protect Yourself
Banks and RBI never call asking for your OTP, PIN, or CVV. Hang up and call your bank back using the number on your card or their official website, never a number the caller gives you.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading What Is Courier/Parcel Scam Calls? How It Works and How to Protect Yourself.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see What Is Digital Arrest Scams? How It Works and How to Protect Yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vishing Calls in India?
Vishing (voice phishing) in India refers to scam phone calls where fraudsters impersonate a bank, RBI, or government official to pressure victims into revealing banking details, OTPs, or transferring money.
How does Vishing Calls in India typically work?
A caller claims to be from your bank, RBI, or a payment app's support team, citing a fake issue like a blocked account, unauthorized transaction, or KYC problem. Using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate, they create urgency and ask the victim to share their card number, CVV, OTP, or to install a remote-access app to "fix" the issue.
What are the warning signs of Vishing Calls in India?
Pressure to act immediately over the phone, a request for your OTP, CVV, or UPI PIN (banks never ask for these), and a request to install a screen-sharing or remote-access app.
How can I protect myself from Vishing Calls in India?
Banks and RBI never call asking for your OTP, PIN, or CVV. Hang up and call your bank back using the number on your card or their official website, never a number the caller gives you.
What should I do if I think I’ve encountered Vishing Calls in India?
Stop responding immediately, do not click any links or share information, and report it to the appropriate authority. If money or personal information was already shared, act quickly to secure your accounts and report the incident.