Scammers go where the people are, and millions of people are on gaming apps. They also know that players often have linked payment methods and are used to receiving notifications, so a fake message blends in easily. If you read about In101 or any other platform and then receive an unexpected call or text, it helps to know exactly how these tricks work.
The Fake Support Call
A caller says they are from support and that your account has a problem. They sound calm and professional. They ask you to confirm your details, then request an OTP so they can fix things. The OTP is the key to your account or your money. Genuine support teams do not call out of the blue and never ask for one. Hang up and contact the platform through its official channel.
The Prize Message
A text or chat message announces that you have won a reward and must click a link to claim it. The link leads to a page that asks for card details or a small fee. Prizes you did not enter for do not exist. Delete the message, block the sender and do not click. If you are curious, check the official app or site directly for any real promotion.
The Urgent Warning
Messages claiming your account will be closed within an hour rely on panic. Fear makes people act before thinking. Real companies give notice through official channels and allow reasonable time. When a message pushes you to hurry, that pressure itself is the warning sign. Take five minutes, breathe and check through the app.
The Friendly Stranger
Someone in a chat group befriends you, praises your skill and then offers a secret method or a special link that guarantees wins. They may show screenshots of big payouts. No such method exists, and screenshots are easy to fake. The goal is usually to get you to deposit money or install something harmful. Politely ignore and leave the group.
The Remote Access Request
A caller asks you to install a screen-sharing or remote-control app so they can fix a problem. Once installed, they can see your passwords and approve payments. No genuine game or bank will ask this. If you already installed such a tool, uninstall it, turn off mobile data, call your bank and change your passwords from another device.
The Refund Trick
After an accidental payment, a scammer might contact you pretending to refund the money. They ask you to enter your UPI PIN or approve a request, claiming it will return funds. In reality, it takes money out. Remember that you never need a PIN to receive money. If anyone asks for it, you are being tricked.
How to Respond Safely
End the conversation without arguing. Do not reveal personal details, even small ones. Verify through official contact details you find yourself. Block and report the number. Keep screenshots of messages in case you need to file a complaint. If you shared sensitive information, call your bank at once using the number on your card.
Report and Recover
In India, you can report cyber fraud through the national cybercrime portal or helpline, ideally as soon as possible, since early reports improve the chance of stopping payments. Provide transaction details, screenshots and phone numbers. Do not pay anyone who offers to recover your money for a fee, because recovery scams follow every fraud.
Protecting Family
Older relatives and teenagers are frequent targets. Share the key rules: no OTP or PIN with anyone, no clicking links in unexpected messages and no remote tools. Role-play a scam call so they hear how convincing it sounds. If real-money play is involved, remind everyone that it must be lawful, adult-only and kept within limits.
Verify Through a Second Channel
Whenever someone contacts you claiming to represent a company, verify by contacting the company yourself through details you found independently. Do not use the number or link in the message. If a caller says they represent a platform such as In101, simply hang up and use the contact information on the official site. A genuine representative will understand, and a scammer will lose interest at once.
Do Not Be Embarrassed
Many victims delay reporting out of shame. That helps only the criminals. Skilled fraudsters fool lawyers, engineers and bankers, because the tricks target emotion rather than intelligence. If you think you were tricked, tell your bank and report it immediately. Time matters, and so does telling someone you trust. Quick action often limits the loss.
Build a Habit of Slowing Down
Every scam relies on speed. Make it your personal rule to wait before acting on any message involving money, accounts or urgent warnings. Even a ten-minute delay breaks the spell. Take a walk, make tea and ask a friend. Calm thinking is the most effective protection available, and it is free.
Create a Family Code Word
Many families agree on a simple code word that a relative can use to confirm identity in an emergency. If someone calls claiming to be a family member in trouble and asking for money, ask for the word. Scammers who clone voices or hijack accounts will not know it. The idea costs nothing, takes a minute to set up and could prevent a very painful mistake.
Staying Calm
Scams succeed by making you feel rushed and alone. Slowing down and asking someone else breaks both. Treat every unexpected request with polite suspicion, and verify before acting. Do that consistently with In101 and everything else on your phone, and you will turn most scammers away before they even begin.
