Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police have alerted the public about a surge in cyber fraud cases linked to e-SIM card activation scams, cautioning that fraudsters can drain entire bank accounts within minutes if victims fall prey to their tricks. The advisory follows warnings issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C).
According to officials, the scam begins with a call from individuals posing as customer care executives of reputed telecom providers. Under the guise of assisting with e-SIM activation, the fraudsters convince victims to accept a fraudulent activation request.
Once the request is approved, the original SIM card in the victim’s phone becomes inactive, while the fraudsters gain control of a new e-SIM linked to the same number. This gives them full access to incoming calls, text messages, and most critically, one-time passwords (OTPs) required for financial transactions. With this control, scammers swiftly siphon off money from victims’ bank accounts.
The Kerala Police have outlined key precautions to prevent falling into the trap:
• Ignore suspicious calls and messages claiming to be from telecom operators.
• Avoid clicking on unknown links; use only official apps or websites of service providers.
• Rely on authorized customer care services for e-SIM activation or related assistance.
• Report sudden loss of mobile network immediately and alert your bank to secure your account.
Police also advised the public to remain calm in the face of scammers who attempt to create urgency by claiming “mandatory” or “time-sensitive” actions.
Victims or individuals who receive information about such frauds are urged to act quickly. Complaints must be filed within one hour of the incident for effective action. Citizens can dial the cybercrime helpline 1930 or report cases online at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Reiterating the seriousness of the threat, Kerala Police stated: “Fraudsters are exploiting new technologies to manipulate users. Awareness and vigilance are the strongest defenses against such crimes.”