What are the red flags of this scam?

Banks send alerts via registered SMS or email — never via WhatsApp — and never ask you to reply YES or NO to confirm a transaction • The message often arrives from a number with a standard +91 prefix, not an official bank shortcode • After you reply, a follow-up call comes quickly, often from someone claiming to be the bank's fraud desk or cyber cell • The call escalates fast: they already know your bank name (from your reply) and ask for OTP or net banking credentials 'to reverse the debit' • No bank or NPCI system processes a payment reversal over a WhatsApp thread

What should I do if this happened to me?

Do not reply to any WhatsApp message claiming to be a bank debit alert — even a one-word NO reply signals your number is active • If you want to verify a debit, log in to your bank's official app or call the number printed on the back of your card • If you already replied and received a follow-up call, hang up immediately and do NOT share any OTP or password • Check your actual account balance and transaction history in your bank's app to see if any real debit occurred • If money was actually debited, call your bank's official fraud helpline immediately and file an FIR • Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).

HIGH phishing Last reported: 16 Oct 2026 Share

WhatsApp message says Rs 90,000 debited — reply YES or NO to confirm

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. A fake bank alert on WhatsApp claims a large amount was debited and asks you to reply YES or NO. Replying — even with NO — confirms your number is active and triggers a follow-up social-engineering call that drains your account.

A fake bank alert on WhatsApp claims a large amount was debited and asks you to reply YES or NO. Replying — even with NO — confirms your number is active and triggers a follow-up social-engineering call that drains your account.

Also known as: WhatsApp YES NO bank scam, fake bank debit WhatsApp message, WhatsApp banking reply fraud, reply NO scam India

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.

What to do right now

1 Do not reply to any WhatsApp message claiming to be a bank debit alert — even a one-word NO reply signals your number is active
2 If you want to verify a debit, log in to your bank's official app or call the number printed on the back of your card
3 If you already replied and received a follow-up call, hang up immediately and do NOT share any OTP or password
4 Check your actual account balance and transaction history in your bank's app to see if any real debit occurred
5 If money was actually debited, call your bank's official fraud helpline immediately and file an FIR
6 Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).

Red flags

⚠ Banks send alerts via registered SMS or email — never via WhatsApp — and never ask you to reply YES or NO to confirm a transaction
⚠ The message often arrives from a number with a standard +91 prefix, not an official bank shortcode
⚠ After you reply, a follow-up call comes quickly, often from someone claiming to be the bank's fraud desk or cyber cell
⚠ The call escalates fast: they already know your bank name (from your reply) and ask for OTP or net banking credentials 'to reverse the debit'
⚠ No bank or NPCI system processes a payment reversal over a WhatsApp thread

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

What to do right now

Red flags

Sources