Police Custody Voice Cloning Payment Scam — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated Jun 10, 2026

Severity: High | View Full Scam Details

Police Custody Voice Cloning Payment Scam in India 2026: Stay Alert to Protect Your UPI and WhatsApp

A new high-risk scam using AI voice cloning to impersonate police custody calls is targeting Indians and tricking them into making UPI payments or sharing sensitive WhatsApp data.

What Is the Police Custody Voice Cloning Payment Scam?

This emerging scam involves fraudsters using AI-powered voice cloning technology to imitate the voice of a family member or someone known to the victim, claiming they are trapped in police custody. The caller urgently demands money to be paid via UPI apps or requests WhatsApp OTP (one-time password) and personal details to "secure release". This manipulation preys on the victim’s fear and trust.

The scam mainly targets middle-aged and elderly users who may be less familiar with digital payment safeguards or suspicious calls. It has been reported in multiple Indian states, with complaints rising steadily throughout early 2026. Fraudsters are leveraging popular platforms like WhatsApp to spread phishing links alongside the voice call to covertly access accounts.

Indian regulators like RBI and CERT-In have issued general warnings about social engineering and phishing attacks, highlighting the increased use of voice cloning in fraud. While no specific advisory has named this exact scheme yet, it fits within the broader category of UPI payment frauds and identity theft cases monitored by the Indian cybercrime ecosystem through I4C.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Initial Call: The victim receives a WhatsApp call from a number that appears to be a close relative or friend. Using AI voice cloning, the caller convincingly mimics their voice. The caller claims to be under police custody due to a fabricated legal issue.

2. Urgent Request for Money: The alleged relative says they need immediate financial help to get released. They demand payment through UPI apps (e.g., Google Pay, PhonePe) and provide a UPI ID such as ri**@bank for instant transfer.

3. Phishing Link or WhatsApp OTP Request: The caller may direct the victim to click on a fake link sent via WhatsApp to “verify identity” or “confirm payment”. Sometimes, they ask for the WhatsApp OTP or Aadhaar-linked details, claiming these are needed to finalize bail or to prevent a legal case.

4. Loss of Money and Data: Once the victim shares the OTP or clicks the phishing link, fraudsters gain access to their WhatsApp account or UPI app. They may immediately transfer money from linked bank accounts or intercept future transactions.

5. Disappearance and Block: After successful payment or data theft, the scammer cuts contact, often blocking the victim’s number, leaving them with no way to verify the call.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• The caller insists on urgent payment without allowing proper verification.
• Payment is asked only through UPI apps, especially using unknown UPI IDs.
• Requests for WhatsApp OTP, Aadhaar details, or other sensitive personal info.
• Calls come suddenly from new or international numbers with the cloned voice.
• Pressure to avoid contacting other family members or police for confirmation.
• Messages containing phishing URLs disguised as official legal or police websites.
• Frequent grammar or spelling mistakes in WhatsApp texts accompanying the call.

What Happens to Victims

Victims often suffer substantial financial losses, with amounts transferred via UPI sometimes reaching tens of thousands of INR before they realize the fraud. Due to UPI’s immediate fund transfer nature, reversing payments can be difficult once the money reaches scammer-controlled accounts. Attempts to block transactions through banks may come too late.

Emotionally, victims experience stress, fear, and loss of trust in digital communication tools, fearing further identity misuse. Compromised WhatsApp accounts linked to Aadhaar-based services enable fraudsters to impersonate victims, plot additional scams, or access sensitive contacts.

SIM swap incidents exacerbate the damage, as scammers controlling the mobile number can intercept OTPs and drain linked bank accounts. This cascading effect shows how quickly one voice-cloning call leads to wider breaches.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has emphasized safeguarding UPI and mobile payments, urging users to never share OTPs or PINs under pressure. RBI’s helpline and digital fraud grievance channels provide assistance for suspicious transactions.

CERT-In, India’s cybersecurity agency, and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) advise citizens to verify caller identities by independently contacting relatives or local police. CERT-In promotes awareness campaigns against phishing and voice-cloning scams aiming to steal credentials.

Victims of such scams are encouraged to report immediately on the national cybercrime portal at cybercrime.gov.in and call the 1930 helpline dedicated to cybercrime complaints.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Verify Urgently: Whenever receiving a suspicious police custody call, contact the purported family member or local police station independently using known numbers.

2. Never Share OTPs or Aadhaar Details: Legitimate authorities or family never ask for these via call or WhatsApp messages.

3. Avoid Instant Payments on Demand: Don’t rush into UPI transfers without confirming the situation carefully.

4. Block and Report Scam Numbers: Use your WhatsApp and telecom provider’s features to block and report suspicious numbers.

5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add extra security on WhatsApp and banking apps.

6. Regularly Monitor Your Bank and UPI Transactions: Report discrepancies immediately through your bank’s fraud helpline.

7. Stay Updated on Official Advisories: Follow RBI, CERT-In, and I4C alerts about new payment and phishing scams.

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

1. Immediately Contact Your Bank: Request blocking of UPI and debit cards linked to suspicious transactions.

2. File a Complaint on Cybercrime Portal: Visit cybercrime.gov.in and file a detailed report including dates, phone numbers, and payment details.

3. Call the 1930 Cybercrime Helpline: For guidance on recovering accounts and for legal aid referrals.

4. Inform Your Telecom Provider: Report potential SIM swap if you lose mobile network control.

5. Change WhatsApp and Bank Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords with 2FA.

6. Alert Family and Friends: Warn them to avoid similar calls and messages from the scammer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can scammers clone any voice, even mine?
A: Advanced AI tools can create convincing clones from just a few minutes of recorded speech. Always be cautious if unexpected calls demand urgent action, no matter how familiar the voice sounds.

Q: Is payment via UPI reversible if I send money by mistake?
A: UPI transactions are usually instant and irreversible once completed. Contacting your bank immediately can sometimes help, but prevention is the best defense.

Q: How can I confirm if a police call is genuine?
A: Independently call your local police station or the accused relative through numbers you know beforehand. Official legal agencies do not demand payments via UPI on random calls.

For any suspicious messages or calls, verify at BharatSecure.app and report fraud at the 1930 cybercrime helpline.

Disclaimer: This article describes a pattern of fraud reported in public sources for public-safety awareness. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice. To request correction or removal of any content, write to hello@bharatsecure.app.