Finance creator Neha Nagar raises alarm on “Merge Call OTP” scam in viral reel

India’s most followed female finance content creator Neha Nagar has released a widely-shared Instagram reel warning viewers about a fast-spreading fraud known as the Merge Call OTP Scam. The reel has already crossed 760K+ views and has been shared over 61,000 times, showing how strongly the message is resonating, and how many people are encountering or worried about this scam.

In the reel, Neha explains how the scam works using a real example from her own neighbourhood. She breaks the process down in simple language so that anyone, especially parents and older family members, can understand exactly what to watch out for.

Reel Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPMap_Ck4F3

How the Scam Works (as explained in the reel)

1. You receive a call from an unknown number.

2. The caller claims your number came from a mutual friend and invites you to a wedding or casual event.

3. To “prove” it’s legitimate, they ask you to merge the call with that supposed friend.

4. The second call, however, is not a friend, it’s actually a bank OTP verification call.
   5.Once the call is merged and the OTP is shared or confirmed, the scammers use it to empty your bank account.
   Neha highlights that this scam works because it sounds normal and friendly, and because most people don’t realize the danger of merging calls with unfamiliar numbers.

The Scale of the Problem

According to official RBI data, 5.8 lakh cyber fraud cases have been recorded in the past four years. This is no longer a rare scam, it is widespread and evolving.

Neha’s 3 Key Safety Rules

1. Never merge calls with unknown numbers.

2. Never share your OTP with anyone, no matter what reason they give.

3. If you receive an OTP you didn’t request, call your bank and the national cybercrime helpline (1930) immediately.
   
4. Neha specifically urges people to share this information with older parents and relatives, who are often more trusting of phone calls and therefore more vulnerable to such tricks.

Quote from Neha Nagar

“I made this reel because this scam looks so harmless in the beginning, and yet it can wipe out someone’s savings in minutes. If one share of this video can protect even a single family, then it’s worth it. Please make sure your parents know about this.”

– Neha Nagar, Personal Finance Creator