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
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.