Pimpri-Chinchwad | October 29, 2025 — Cyber Police officials in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC) have issued a circular alerting residents to a new digital fraud method sweeping Maharashtra’s urban belt. Dubbed the “Call Forwarding Scam,” the technique involves convincing unsuspecting citizens to dial a specific mobile code — often beginning with 21 or 401 — under false pretenses.
Once the code is entered, all incoming calls to the victim’s number are redirected to the fraudster’s device. This simple redirection, police say, grants cybercriminals complete access to the victim’s phone communications, enabling them to intercept OTPs, monitor banking transactions, and impersonate victims during critical financial exchanges.
How the Scam Works
According to officials, the operation begins with a call from someone posing as a representative of a telecom company or SIM card provider. The fraudster claims there’s a network upgrade, a service outage, or a promotional offer — and then instructs the victim to dial a short code to “activate” or “verify” the service.
What follows is a digital trap. The moment the victim dials the number, call forwarding is silently activated. From that point onward, any OTP related to bank or UPI transactions — as well as incoming calls — are rerouted to the criminal’s device. In several recent incidents, victims didn’t realize they had lost control of their phone until their bank balances dropped
The Hidden Costs of a Simple Code
Investigators say this scam has four major consequences:
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OTP Theft: Fraudsters intercept one-time passwords linked to financial accounts.
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Missed Calls: Victims stop receiving any incoming calls, all of which go to the fraudster.
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Social Engineering: Criminals impersonate victims to deceive friends, relatives, or colleagues.
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Privacy Breach: Access to call logs and bank messages puts personal safety at risk.
Cyber officers warn that these seemingly minor manipulations represent a dangerous evolution in social engineering.
“Residents have reported that scammers pose as mobile company officials or government representatives, asking them to dial a code for updates or offers,” a PCPC official said. “Once you comply, they control your phone.”
Reporting and Prevention: The Golden Hour
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr. Shivaji Pawar emphasized the importance of swift reporting — what law enforcement calls the “golden hour.”
“If you are defrauded through call forwarding, immediately contact cybercrime.gov.in or call the national helpline 1930,” he said.
Police stress that reporting within the first hour of discovering a cybercrime greatly improves the chances of recovering stolen money. Though criminals often convert stolen funds into cryptocurrency or transfer them abroad, timely reporting can still halt many transactions before completion.
To prevent such attacks, citizens are urged to:
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Never dial USSD codes suggested by unknown callers.
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Check for active call forwarding using *#21#.
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Deactivate all forwarding with ##002#.
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Contact telecom support for verification.
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Alert the bank immediately if fraudulent transactions occur.
“This scam is new in our region, and many have already lost significant sums,” a Pimpri-Chinchwad Cyber Police official said. “It shows how criminals are adapting faster than the public’s awareness — one call at a time.”
