[Scammed_NowWhat]

10 days back I received a call asking how many kilometers my honda car has traveled after last service? I said I didnt know and caller asked if she could call the next day.

Few days later she called me to tell that they were sending RSA card from Honda. I believed it must be genuine Honda so I trusted them. She had told me it would be Rs 3500.

I also received a WhatsApp message from shiprocket that my courier will be delivered that day. It was 4500 rupees now. I discussed with my family that I was 3500 on call. But we trusted Honda so went ahead with the plan.

Received the package and paid 4500 to delivery boy. Instantly got call from center saying you have received the card now send the photos on whatsapp. This is when my instincts clicked but it was already late. I contacted my dealer who denied any such scheme.

I called the center number and she said that it is a genuine registered company and they have bought my details from the insurance company that registered my car. I said I wanted my money back and she said "I guarantee you I will return your money tomorrow morning. I am also a human. I have to tell my parents where I work. Please be assured."

Next day I got a call from her senior who said that she will send me the recording and she never said she was from Honda. She had said "service 24x7" so she will not return the money because I consented to it. They denied to admit that they were fraudsters. They were saying things like "we are registered company. You called my employee at midnight. I am calling you from my personal number. Which company does that? You have to trust me." There was no truecaller complaint against their numbers. She even used reverse psychology on me and said that I will face karma for getting angry at her.

They asked me to send card pictures on whatsapp and delivery boy number to authorize my card. When I deleted the messages she replied "aisa thode hota hai". She called me many times and when I picked up I heard another girl saying to some other customer in background "yes be assured you will get your money back". She even said that I was lying that I had received the card when I refused to send its pictures.

This is how I figured out that they are rooting me in for an even bigger scam by promising to return the money. I blocked the numbers and considered the fraud money to be a type of charity donation to someone who might have needed it for something in their life.

I called the number on the card. The man who picked up the call acted shocked that I called them scam. He said it was genuine RSA service and I should not bug him because I might need to call him some day for service. I was amazed by the sheer confidence and audacity. Unlike a regular fraudster, they didnt hang up the call and kept calling me again and again. They kept insisting that they were genuine company and I would get service after registration.

The scam didnt hurt me as much as the emotional abuse and verbal attack. I got a call from Maya who said she was from Honda. Later she denied ever saying Honda; she said she would only return my money if she had said Honda company. Then I got a call from Neha Verma who said to me that I will face karma for getting angry at them. Then Maya asked me to send documents pictures to her WhatsApp. I denied and she yelled at me why I had lied to her. What did I lie about? That you have received the package; if you have got the package then send the pictures. I said I dont want my money back, keep it.

Yesterday they relentlessly called me once again. Neha Verma said I am ready to return your money on PayTM but you have destroy your card and send me picture on WhatsApp. I folded it and sent to her. Then I got a call from Shweta Tiwaari who downright abused me that I need to learn conversation manners, do I want my money back or not, if yes then do what they say.

I kept insisting I knew they were fraud and I did not want my money back but they were harassing me mentally. I could not believe their audacity and confidence. They have extorted my money fraudulently. On top of that, they are psychologically harassing me "Why are you being so hopeless? Why are you being so negative? You have set in your mind that it is fraud so you're not listening to me."

I told her my father is undergoing cancer treatment and we need every single rupee right now, I genuinely believed they were from Honda. She said that she also had a family she understood my emotions and will return my money. The next day they were harassing me in a group.


I think it was the last time I believed in humanity. I have blocked their numbers. Hope they dont misuse my database. None of the numbers were flagged on truecaller. 9811555782, 9953834457, 9310710027. Call any of these numbers. All are working and all are scammers. I watched tons of scammer videos on YouTube today to educate myself on their tactics.

I finally realized that they will not refund my money and this promise is another scam. They will probably send fake money and then harass me more. So I blocked them.

[ashis89]

Several members, including me, have received such calls and shared it on different threads. I must have received such call twice or thrice in the past 2 years. Price was 3500 for 15 yr (!) RSA contract. Hearing this deal, I simply disconnected the call each time without any further interaction.

Edit: Found these two threads on such scams
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...cam-calls.html (Beware of RSA scam calls)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...omer-data.html (Are Mahindra dealerships selling customer data?)

[Thilak29]

I am sorry that you experienced this episode, but curious why let it stick with you by choosing a forum call name - Scammed_NowWhat ?

[lsjey]

Sorry that you got scammed. You did good in blocking their numbers. Please move forward and enjoy your car.

I too have received multiple calls from such RSA scammers. A lot of new timeshare tourism guys also call. These guys buy our data from unscrupulous dealers and employees of insurance companies.

Here is how I deal with them:

1. I pick the phone and say only "Hellloooo" in a sing song voice. Then wait for their response.
2. When they start talking, I pick out if they are from local call center or not and choose Tamil if they are not local and Hindi if they are from TN. The point is to act like an uneducated villager and that they have got the wrong number.
3. If they ask me if I'm so and so and all, I only act confused and don't respond. If the caller is genuine, they will tell me their name and organization and why they are calling first.
4. I do get brickbats for speaking in Hindi from local call center guys, but I bear with them. The Tamil call center guys will immediately switch to English when I start responding in Hindi. I keep saying that I don't know any other language than Hindi.

My personal experience has been that the number of calls get drastically reduced based on this strategy.

These cold calling fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated. But they have a big Achilles heel. That being their recruits are fluent only in their mother tongue. They mostly do not have skill in either English or other vernacular languages of India. We need to utilize the diversity of our country to our advantage.

Regards,
lsjey

[Scammed_NowWhat]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

I am sorry that you experienced this episode, but curious why let it stick with you by choosing a forum call name - Scammed_NowWhat ?

I didnt know of team-BHP before this.

On a side note, is there any website that updates lists of all latest scams and frauds being run in india? I feel like I could have avoided this fraud if only I was knowledgeable. Perhaps a blog that updates all latest scams will help.

[lonetraveller89]

Look buddy, they played you good and you fell for it. What’s done is done and you have emerged out from this situation as a wiser man. It’s ok, it happens to the best of us. But don’t let that bring you down. And you should’ve chosen a better forum handle. Because the truthful answer to “scammed, now what?” is “nothing, let bygones be bygones and move on”. Just block these numbers or mark them as spam via TrueCaller and go take a long, spirited drive in your Honda to shrug this off.

[Scammed_NowWhat]

Originally Posted by ashis89

Several members, including me, have received such calls and shared it on different threads. I must have received such call twice or thrice in the past 2 years. Price was 3500 for 15 yr (!) RSA contract. Hearing this deal, I simply disconnected the call each time without any further interaction.

Edit: Found these two threads on such scams
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...cam-calls.html (Beware of RSA scam calls)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...omer-data.html (Are Mahindra dealerships selling customer data?)

Again, lack of knowledge on my part. I didnt fall for it out of greed but because of Honda. I wouldn't need RSA because I drive well but.. I thought Honda cares for me so let's go along with it. Who else could come to my house for home delivery other than Honda itself?

Anyway, scamming is a short term profit. I will be cynical from now on.

[vredesbyrd]

1. Always cross-verify/avoid deals related to insurance, car warranty, car insurance, credit cards
2. 90% of commercial dealings on whatsapp are a scam (unless it's a restaurant)
3. Always stick to dealerships and your insurance provider for RSA. These usually are the best sources
4. Every company in India leaks data like a poorly maintained E39 leaking oil. Half the country already has your mobile number, credit card, address and car registry (so they have mine as well)
5. The scammers you dealt with are of the opposite gender and they can simply call false harassment and police will be ready to ruin your life without evidence so let it go
6. You're stuck with this username, now what?

[Scammed_NowWhat]

Originally Posted by vredesbyrd

1. Always cross-verify/avoid deals related to insurance, car warranty, car insurance, credit cards
2. 90% of commercial dealings on whatsapp are a scam (unless it's a restaurant)
3. Always stick to dealerships and your insurance provider for RSA. These usually are the best sources
4. Every company in India leaks data like a poorly maintained E39 leaking oil. Half the country already has your mobile number, credit card, address and car registry (so they have mine as well)
5. The scammers you dealt with are of the opposite gender and they can simply call false harassment and police will be ready to ruin your life without evidence so let it go
6. You're stuck with this username, now what?

Good points.
5. I'm the same gender as them. I have their recordings. I dont base my self esteem on how others react to me though. They mentally harassed me. This is how they justify their wrongdoing. In individuals insanity is rare, in groups it is the rule.
6. I am not a car enthusiast. Will lurk around for awareness and information.

[blitz_nomad]

Folks,

Not directly related to the fraud here, but if you are getting repeated scam calls/marketing calls, complain using the DND app. The telecom operator needs to investigate report back. The app has a poor rating, but I've had success with it. Ever since I got my car, I used to keep getting two calls daily from random numbers marketing real estate and financial products. This took care of it.

Alternatively you can raise a complaint with the operator directly. They typically have a way in their app or website. (But these may not be well maintained or functional).

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by lsjey

Here is how I deal with them:

1. I pick the phone and say only "Hellloooo" in a sing song voice. Then wait for their response.
2. When they start talking, I pick out if they are from local call center or not and choose Tamil if they are not local and Hindi if they are from TN. The point is to act like an uneducated villager and that they have got the wrong number.
3. If they ask me if I'm so and so and all, I only act confused and don't respond. If the caller is genuine, they will tell me their name and organization and why they are calling first.
4. I do get brickbats for speaking in Hindi from local call center guys, but I bear with them. The Tamil call center guys will immediately switch to English when I start responding in Hindi. I keep saying that I don't know any other language than Hindi.

My personal experience has been that the number of calls get drastically reduced based on this strategy.

Nice. Based on my mood and time availability (relaxed mood on a weekend) I may indulge in 'Babu Bhaiya' type of conversation with them to waste their time. 90% of the time they laugh with me and understand that I won't give in and have understood their game. So no more follow up calls come after this.

Alternative, I simply let the call continue on mute and keep the phone aside. After 2-3 such calls, they stop calling

[denzdm]

I would suggest to report this as cyber crime to deter such fraudsters. There is also an option to be anonymous if you wish. Based on your location, this should be the link - http://cybercelldelhi.in/Report.html

[ajayc123]

I normally use truecaller on my phone, which works as a good spam alert. Please be careful in future, and try to conduct adequate due diligence before entering any financial transactions, and never share or confirm any personally identifiable information with such callers, or get into financial transactions based on incoming call.

[Captain Slow]

Why dont you post their numbers here? That way others will get warned about these scammers.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

Why dont you post their numbers here? That way others will get warned about these scammers.

OP has I believe, quoting the relevant section below.

Originally Posted by Scammed_NowWhat

None of the numbers were flagged on truecaller. 9811555782, 9953834457, 9310710027. Call any of these numbers. All are working and all are scammers