What's The ‘Activate Your New Credit Card' Scam And How To Stay Safe?
In today's digital world, a credit card is crucial for securing online transactions, shopping and healthcare access. Credit cards have also become a target for fraudsters who exploit this through various tactics. The cases of credit card scams are on the rise and individuals often fall victim to these attacks when they unknowingly share sensitive information with imposters posing as legitimate entities.
In one of the most alarming threats, fraudsters are increasingly using impersonation tactics, posing as bank officials, to trick credit card holders into revealing their sensitive information like OTPs and card details under the guise of activating new cards. It seems like a regular call when the caller gains your trust by confirming basic information before attempting to steal money.
In Mumbai, fraudsters imitating bank officials scammed at least 19 people, causing losses of over Rs 8 lakh in May 2025 alone.
According to CA Abhishek Walia, 'Fraudsters pretended to be bank telemarketing agents, saying they needed card info to 'activate" the new cards. Once card and CVV details were shared, they executed multiple unauthorized transactions."
If someone calls claiming to help you activate your credit card and then asks for your OTP (One-Time Password), it is a scam. Bank representatives will never ask for your OTP over the phone for credit card activation or any other purpose. Always verify such requests by contacting your bank directly.
Here's how you can protect yourselves from such credit card scams.
Review your account regularly: It is advisable to regularly review your card transactions as a proactive measure to detect and prevent unauthorised charges. This practice allows for the timely identification of any suspicious transactions, enabling you to promptly report them and potentially prevent further financial loss.
Enable real time alerts: Setting up email and SMS alerts for each credit card transaction is a good security practice. These notifications give immediate notification of any unauthorised expenditure, allowing cardholders to detect and resolve any fraud. By promptly reviewing transaction details and reporting suspicious activity, cardholders can reduce potential losses and prevent additional illegal card use.
Don't share your card information: It is crucial to never share your One-Time Password (OTP), Card Verification Value (CVV), or Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank. Banks will never ask for this sensitive information.
Set transaction limits: Reducing your credit card limit to zero when not actively using the card can significantly minimise potential financial loss if the card is compromised, as it prevents unauthorised transactions. Most banks now allow for quick and easy adjustments to credit card limits, including setting them to zero.
Act quickly: According to RBI guidelines, if you report an unauthorizsed banking transaction to your bank within three working days of receiving the communication about the transaction, you may have zero liability for the loss. To protect against unauthorised use of your credit card, you should immediately file a written complaint, freeze the card, and keep a copy of the complaint for your records.
About the Author
Business Desk
First Published:
News business What's The 'Activate Your New Credit Card' Scam And How To Stay Safe?
Latest News
Watch: Indian Cricket Team Meets King Charles III At St. James Palace
Cricket
Agency feeds
SBSP leader Arvind Rajbhar booked over press conference at Mau Railway Station
Agency feeds
New Super Chennai website aims to make the city a global frontrunner
Agency feeds
Justice Vibhu Bakhru sworn in as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court
Agency feeds
Murder convict on the run on jail caught with stolen bike in Thane district
latest news
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
10 minutes ago
- India Today
Assam Rifles seizes drugs worth Rs 33 crore in Mizoram
In a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking, Assam Rifles recovered a large consignment of Methamphetamine tablets weighing 11.110 kilograms in Champhai district of Mizoram on Thursday. The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs indicating the presence of contraband in the general area of the meticulously planned and executed operation, the Assam Rifles team conducted a thorough search, leading to the successful seizure of the narcotics. The recovered Methamphetamine tablets are estimated to be worth approximately Rs. 33.33 crore in the international seized contraband has been handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department, Champhai for further legal proceedings and investigation. This comes a week after the Assam Rifles intercepted a massive consignment of smuggled alcohol near National Highway-37 at Awangkhul in Manipur. Acting swiftly on specific intelligence, the team seized 1,430 cases containing over 32,000 bottles and cans of assorted liquor, estimated to be worth around Rs 1 crore on July 24. Two drivers transporting the consignment were arrested and later handed over to the state police.- EndsMust Watch
India.com
10 minutes ago
- India.com
India Announced Big Move As Pakistan Kept Watching: Sawalkot Hydropower Project On Chenab To Resume After 40 Years
Srinagar: The Sawalkot hydropower project lay buried in bureaucratic delays and geopolitical tensions for decades. Now, for the first time in 40 years, India has moved to bring the stalled dream back to life. Days after suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, New Delhi has given the green signal to resume work on the long-pending project along the Chenab river. The decision marks a strategic shift. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) floated international tenders on Wednesday for design and engineering work on the project. Located near the village of Sidhra in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, Sawalkot is designed to generate 1,856 megawatts of power. It could eventually become one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the region. The deadline for tender submission is set for September 10. Old Blueprint, New Push The Sawalkot project was conceptualised in the 1980s but never got off the ground. It ran into hurdles almost immediately. Pakistan raised repeated objections under the Indus Waters Treaty, arguing that such projects on western rivers violated the spirit of the agreement. While maintaining it was within its rights, India paused the process several times. There were domestic challenges too such as compensation for families in 13 affected villages, shifting a transit camp of the Army and getting forest clearance under environmental rules. All of this stalled any real progress. Now, many of those hurdles appear to have been cleared. Earlier this month, the Forest Advisory Committee gave in-principle approval to divert around 847 hectares of forest land for the project. The government has also waived the water usage fee for the NHPC, offering it a financial cushion. More Than a Dam The Centre sees Sawalkot as a national-level infrastructure need that is important not only for Jammu & Kashmir, but also for the wider push towards energy independence. It is a run-of-the-river project, meaning it will not require large reservoirs but will harness the natural flow of the Chenab to generate electricity. The estimated cost of the project is over Rs 22,700 crore, and it will be developed in two phases. A Treaty Under Stress When the Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, India got control over three eastern rivers, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. Pakistan received rights over the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. The treaty allowed India limited use of water from the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes, including hydropower. For years, India respected those limits. But with Pakistan using the treaty to repeatedly block projects, New Delhi's patience has thinned. By moving forward with Sawalkot now, India appears to be asserting its rights more strongly. A Political Legacy Revisited J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the power portfolio in the current administration, said the revival of Sawalkot was overdue. 'This project is very important. I had tried to restart it during my last tenure, but many roadblocks came in the way,' he said. He highlighted that the original work was stopped in 1996. His father and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, had tried to restart it with the help of a Norwegian consortium, but even that attempt failed. Later, under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's leadership, the project was shelved entirely. Now, nearly three decades later, the wheels are turning again. The Sawalkot dam might not just light up homes. It might light up a whole new phase in India's water diplomacy.
India Today
18 minutes ago
- India Today
Boy, 13, brutally killed after being kidnapped in Bengaluru
A 13-year-old boy was found dead in a deserted area in Bengaluru on Thursday, a day after being kidnapped on his way to a Class 8 student at Christ School, was kidnapped on Wednesday evening while returning home from his tuition class in Shantiniketan Layout, Arakere. His father, an assistant professor at a reputed private college, lodged a missing person complaint at the Hulimavu Police Station after the boy did not return home by the expected Thursday evening, Nishchith's body was discovered in a deserted area along Kaggalipura Road. His body appeared to be severely burned or charred. His footwear and clothes were mostly burned, and his face turned black. Boy found brutally killed in a deserted area. According to the FIR, Nishchith had attended his tuition at 5:00 pm and left class at 7:30 pm. When he did not reach home by 8:00 pm, his family contacted the tuition teacher, who confirmed that he had already left. His bicycle was later found abandoned near Promili Park in after the complaint was filed, the family received a ransom call demanding Rs 5 lakh for the boy's release. However, despite the family's readiness to comply with the demand, and the police's swift response, the situation took a tragic police officials, including Electronic City DCP Narayan and Bengaluru Rural SP C K Baba, visited the crime scene following the discovery of the investigations are ongoing.- Ends
