What the LocalCircles Survey Is Saying About Whatsapp Scams in India?

A new survey by community platform LocalCircles has found that at least 42% of WhatsApp users in India have received fake job offers, mainly for part-time or work-from-home roles. These offers usually ask for upfront payments, promising good income, but are actually scams.

The survey, which had over 22,000 respondents across 312 districts, shows a worrying rise in WhatsApp-based fraud. Nearly half of all respondents said they had received scam messages in some form.

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Most Common Types of WhatsApp Scams

Respondents reported multiple types of fraud, with the most common being:

• 45%: Fake lottery or celebrity show prizes requiring a “refundable fee”
• 42%: Job scams with fake companies asking for money upfront.
• 42%: Threats about utility disconnections, like electricity or gas
• 21%: Suspicious QR codes or reward links
• 12%: Impersonation frauds using victims’ names and photos
• 12%: OTP scams to hijack WhatsApp accounts
• 9%: Video calls later used for extortion
• 6%: Threats of legal action to extract money
• 24%: Other forms of scams

Impersonation Scams on the Rise

Impersonation is a growing concern. 12% of users said scammers used their identity to message contacts. Worse, 35% said their friends or family had been impersonated.

Scammers usually copy the victim’s photo and name and then message their contacts asking for urgent help—like mobile recharges or gift cards.

Real-Life Cases of WhatsApp Scams

Recent cases show the damage these scams can cause:

• A 63-year-old man in Mumbai lost ₹7.31 crore to scammers claiming to be stock market experts.
• A dentist in Kolkata was tricked into clicking a link, thinking he was helping an army officer.
• Even Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma revealed someone tried to impersonate him via WhatsApp.

Scammers Are Getting Smarter

Many of these frauds are run by international gangs, using WhatsApp’s personal nature to trick people. They also use foreign numbers to avoid detection.

The government has warned about crimes like “digital arrests”, where scammers pretend to be police and force victims to pay.

What Needs to Be Done

LocalCircles has recommended key steps to control the situation:

• Stricter mobile SIM verification
• Quick ways to report scam numbers
• Better data-sharing among telecom companies
• Use of AI by WhatsApp to detect fraud

The survey findings will be shared with key authorities like TRAI, DoT, MEITY, and CCPA. 

Conclusion 

WhatsApp is becoming a hotspot for scams in India. With fake job offers, impersonations, and threats on the rise, users must stay alert. It’s also time for stronger rules and smarter tech to protect people from being cheated. 
 
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