Step 1: Initial Contact

• The scammer calls the victim, posing as a friend, acquaintance, or someone referred by a mutual connection.

• They claim to have received the victim’s number from a trusted source.

Step 2: Request to Merge Calls

• The scammer states that the mutual friend is calling from another number.

• They request the victim to merge the call with that person.

Step 3: Linking to an OTP Call

• Once the call is merged, the victim unknowingly connects to a legitimate bank OTP verification call.

• The scammer times this so that the OTP arrives during the conversation.

Step 4: Manipulating the Victim

• The victim, believing the OTP is related to the ongoing discussion, shares it without suspicion.

• The scammer immediately uses the OTP to authorize unauthorized transactions.

Step 5: Financial Fraud

• The fraudsters successfully complete transactions, transferring money from the victim’s account.

• By the time the victim realizes, the damage is already done.

Step 6: Disappearing Act

• The scammers disconnect the call and become unreachable.

• The victim only realizes the fraud when they check their bank account or receive a transaction alert.