Called Your Friend But Hear Someone Else On The Line? Here's How Cyber Thugs Are Scamming You

Last Updated:March 06, 2025, 11:17 IST

If you call someone and hear a different voice on the other end, you might assume it's a network issue and call again. However, this could be a major scam

Cybercriminals exploit the call forwarding feature to divert calls without the user's knowledge. (Local18)

Cyber mafia and fraudsters are targeting mobile users daily, using new tricks to deceive them. They regularly find new ways to scam people and drain their bank balances.

One of their many tricks involves using call forwarding. If you call someone and hear a different voice on the other end, you might assume it’s a network issue and call again. However, this could be a major scam.

Call forwarding is a legal telecom feature that allows users to redirect their calls to another number. However, cybercriminals exploit this feature to divert calls without the user’s knowledge. Many people remain unaware of this fraud until they suffer financial losses.

How to Check if Your Calls Are Being Forwarded

To determine whether call forwarding is active on your phone, follow these steps:

Dial *#21# and press the call button.If call forwarding is active, the number to which your calls are being forwarded will appear.If no forwarding is active, you will see the message “No Service Activated".If your calls are being forwarded to an unknown number, disable it immediately by dialling ##002#.If the issue persists, go to your phone’s call forwarding settings and remove any unknown numbers.

Why Is This Fraud Dangerous?

According to Gujarat-based cyber expert Dr Snehal Vakil, “Your SIM card acts as a key to your bank account. If your OTPs or other sensitive calls are being forwarded, cybercriminals can gain access to your bank account and cause financial losses before you even realise it."

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