In today’s hyper-connected world, most people share details of their daily lives on social media—photos, check-ins, phone numbers, emails, and more. While social platforms help us stay connected, they have also opened the door for scammers, spam callers, and fraudsters who misuse this information for their own benefit.
From fake loan calls to job scams, OTP fraud, and impersonation calls, cybercriminals use both public social media data and leaked information to target people. The good news? With a few simple habits, you can protect your privacy and avoid falling into their traps.
Below is a complete guide to help you stay safe.
1. Understand How Scammers Get Your Information
Many people think fraudsters randomly call numbers. But in reality, most scammers get your data from:
Public social media profiles
Posts where you reveal your phone number
Leaked databases
Online shopping forms
Fake job portals
Weak privacy settings
Public groups and communities
Unsecured Wi-Fi networks
If your phone number or email is visible anywhere online, scammers can easily use it.
Why it matters:
Once scammers have your number, they can attempt fraud through fake offers, banking scams, or impersonation tricks.
2. Set Strong Privacy Settings on Social Media
Most people never check their platform privacy settings. Leaving them open allows anyone—even unknown people—to view your details.
Update these settings immediately:
Hide your phone number
Hide your email
Hide your friend list
Make your profile private or locked
Disable “Who can look me up using my phone number”
Turn off location history
Block apps and websites connected to your account
Why it works:
If scammers cannot see your personal details, they cannot target you easily.
3. Never Share Sensitive Information Publicly
People often make the mistake of posting:
Phone numbers
Travel plans
OTP screenshots
ID proofs (Aadhaar, PAN, passport)
Order invoices
Addresses
Personal conversations
Scammers monitor such posts and use them to impersonate you or run fraud schemes.
4. Be Careful With Unknown Calls
Scam callers often pretend to be:
Bank representatives
Courier companies
Telecom operators
Insurance agents
Job recruiters
Government officials
Online shopping delivery staff
They use urgent or emotional tactics to make you act quickly.
Always hang up and independently verify the number.
Red flags of a scam call:
Asking for OTP
Asking to “click a link”
Asking for card number or CVV
Offering prizes or cashback
Threatening your bank account will be blocked
Asking you to install remote access apps
Golden Rule:
No bank or company will ever ask for your OTP or PIN.
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