What are the red flags of this scam?

Top number in Google is on a sponsored ad, a Quora answer, or a blog — not on the company's official website • Agent immediately asks you to install AnyDesk, Quick Support, RustDesk, or a 'verification app' • Agent asks you to share your screen, log in to net-banking, or make a 'test payment' of ₹1 to 'verify' • Agent insists on a refund being processed only through their guidance • Background sounds like a call center but the agent's number is a personal mobile

What should I do if this happened to me?

Get customer care numbers from the company's OFFICIAL website only — open the bank's app or type the URL yourself, never from a search result • Real customer care never asks you to install screen-sharing software. Never • Do not make 'test payments' to verify anything. Real verification doesn't take money from you • If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it. • Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).

CRITICAL tech support Share

Googling a customer care number returns a scammer's number at the top

You search Google for "SBI customer care," "Swiggy refund," or "Indigo cancellation" and the top result is a fake number on a fake page. The "agent" who picks up walks you through installing AnyDesk or Quick Support, then drains your bank account.

Also known as: fake helpline search scam, SEO-poisoned customer care, Google search support number scam

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

Call 1930 now

1 Call 1930 — the national cyber-crime helpline — right now. The sooner you report, the better the chance of freezing the money before it moves.
2 Call your bank to freeze the account and block the card immediately. Use the number printed on your card, never a number from the message or caller.
3 File a report at cybercrime.gov.in and keep every message, screenshot, and transaction ID.
! If you installed any "support", "server", "refund", or remote-access app at their request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.): disconnect the internet now, then run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.

What to do right now

1 Get customer care numbers from the company's OFFICIAL website only — open the bank's app or type the URL yourself, never from a search result
2 Real customer care never asks you to install screen-sharing software. Never
3 Do not make 'test payments' to verify anything. Real verification doesn't take money from you
4 If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
5 Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).

Was remote-access software installed?

If a scammer asked you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, or any remote-access app, your device may still be compromised.

Run SeraphSecure to detect and remove it →

Red flags

⚠ Top number in Google is on a sponsored ad, a Quora answer, or a blog — not on the company's official website
⚠ Agent immediately asks you to install AnyDesk, Quick Support, RustDesk, or a 'verification app'
⚠ Agent asks you to share your screen, log in to net-banking, or make a 'test payment' of ₹1 to 'verify'
⚠ Agent insists on a refund being processed only through their guidance
⚠ Background sounds like a call center but the agent's number is a personal mobile

This scam exploits a simple habit: searching Google for a phone number. Scammers buy ads, post fake numbers on Quora and Justdial, and create lookalike sites that rank well. The number you find is theirs, not the company’s.

The defense is small but absolute: get customer care numbers from the official website only. For your bank, the number is on the back of your card. For an airline, it’s in your booking confirmation email or the airline’s app. Never from a search engine.

Known variants

Government guest house booking search (2026): victim Googles a state/central government guest house (e.g. Kumarakrupa Residency, Bengaluru) to book a room, finds a fake number or QR code in search results or Justdial. Fake receptionist collects payment via QR but no booking is made. ₹99,666 lost in one documented Bengaluru case.

Last seen: 6/30/2026
Doctor-appointment search: victim Googles clinic/hospital number, fake top result poses as receptionist. ₹2–₹10 'registration token' captures card details or tricks victim into entering UPI PIN. WhatsApp may deliver 'Doctors_Appointment.apk' for remote access. Kanpur: ₹11.44 lakh; Hyderabad: ₹4.5 lakh; Mumbai: ₹77,000; Dhanbad: ₹2 lakh.

Last seen: 6/30/2026
Angadia / traditional cash courier search: businessperson Googles an angadia (traditional Indian cash courier) service; fake Google listing poses as agent, convinces victim to hand over physical cash for a 'delivery token' that proves worthless. Gujarat trader lost ₹27 lakh. No digital trail once cash changes hands.

Last seen: 6/28/2026

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Known variants

Sources