A call from the bank. They want your OTP. Hang up.

A call came on my mother's phone. The man on the other end said:

"Madam, I'm calling from your bank. There's been an international transaction on your account. If you don't verify with us right now, your account will be permanently blocked."

She panicked. He said a "verification OTP" was being sent, and asked her to read it back to him.

If I hadn't been home at that moment, a large sum would have been gone.

A bank will never ask for your OTP

This is the most important sentence in this article. Your whole family should know it:

• No bank, anywhere, will ever ask for an OTP over the phone.
• Not your PIN. Not your password. Not your CVV. Not your full debit card number.
• If they're asking, they're a scammer. Full stop.

How the scam works

The scammer is, in fact, trying to log into your account. The bank's system sends an OTP to your phone to verify the login. The scammer needs that OTP to complete the login.

If you read it out, they get in — and they withdraw the money in a minute or two. Sometimes faster.

Teach your parents

Set one rule at home:

"Anyone calls saying they're from the bank — hang up. Then dial the number on the back of your card yourself."

Make this a household rule. And repeat it to elders — saying it once is not enough.