The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued multiple advisories warning citizens about emerging cyber threats that are resulting in significant financial losses. According to the advisories, these threats include the misuse of matrimonial and dating platforms for investment and cryptocurrency scams, USSD-based call forwarding frauds carried out through impersonation of delivery or courier agents, and WhatsApp web account renting scams.
The agency noted that fraudsters are exploiting Indian matrimonial platforms by creating fake profiles using stolen photographs and claiming high-status professions to gain credibility. These actors reportedly target high-income individuals using platform filters and quickly establish contact, building emotional trust through frequent communication.
I4C also observed a rise in scams involving impersonation of delivery or courier agents. In such cases, citizens are contacted under the pretext of confirming or rescheduling deliveries and are instructed to dial USSD codes sent via SMS starting with *21*, followed by a mobile number typically controlled by fraudsters.
Further, the I4C’s National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit flagged misleading advertisements on Meta platforms that promise “automatic earnings” by linking WhatsApp accounts. These advertisements redirect users to fraudulent websites or malicious Android applications mimicking legitimate platforms. By tricking users into scanning QR codes, cybercriminals misuse WhatsApp’s linked device feature to take over accounts, which are then rented out as mule accounts for scams, fraud, or illegal content circulation.
To reduce risk, the agency advised users to avoid installing third-party applications and to remain cautious of social media advertisements offering quick passive income or referral-based commissions.
