In India, we’re known for our compassion. Whether it’s helping a sick child or donating for someone’s surgery, we often come forward with open hearts. But scammers have turned this kindness into a business. From emotional phone calls to viral WhatsApp messages and even fake donation links, a new breed of scam is spreading fast—and it’s costing people money, trust, and peace of mind.
What Are Medical Help Scams?
Medical Emergency scams are fraudulent appeals for financial aid, claiming someone needs emergency treatment, surgery, or hospital care. The goal? To trick you into donating money—often in small amounts—using fake stories, images, and urgency. They come in 3 common forms:
1. Fake Phone Calls
You get a call from a crying stranger:
“My son is in the ICU… heart surgery… we just need ₹5000 more. Please help.”
They may:
- Sound very emotional or distressed
- Use background noise (like a crying baby)
- Claim to be in a well-known hospital (like AIIMS or Apollo)
- Urge immediate UPI or bank transfers
Reality: Most of these are scripted. The caller is not a parent but a fraudster with a prepaid SIM card or internet phone number. Once you pay, they vanish.
2. WhatsApp & Social Media Forwards
You receive a forwarded message like:
“Help baby Ayaan. Needs urgent kidney transplant. Even ₹100 helps. Share with 10 others.”
It includes:
- A sad photo of a sick child
- A UPI ID or QR code
- Emotional language and viral pressure (“Don’t scroll without helping!”)
Reality: The photos are often stolen from real patients or stock images. The UPI ID belongs to the scammer. These forwards may go viral in school, society, or family groups—making them look trustworthy.
3. Fake Crowdfunding Links
You see links shared on social media or even by acquaintances:
“Donate now for 3-year-old Divya’s cancer treatment.”
FakeCrowdfund.link/divya-emergency
These mimic platforms like Ketto, Milaap, or ImpactGuru, but the links are slightly altered or hosted on lookalike pages.
Reality: These aren’t real campaigns. The entire page is faked to steal money—or even bank/card details.
How to Spot a Medical Help Scam
- The story is vague: No proper hospital, diagnosis, or patient details
- UPI name doesn’t match the child’s or parent’s name
- Caller or message insists on urgency: “Last few minutes left!”
- Images show up on Google Reverse Image Search
- Hospital denies any such patient when contacted
- The fundraising link looks suspicious (typos, unusual domains, no verification)
How to Protect Yourself & Others
- Pause before helping: Real emergencies don’t come via mass forwards or random calls.
- Call the hospital: Ask for the patient’s admission number or doctor’s details.
- Search the story online: Many scams are already reported or circulated before.
- Don’t forward blindly: You may unintentionally help scammers target more victims.
- Donate only through official sources: Use verified NGOs or known crowdfunding platforms, and double-check the campaign’s legitimacy.
- Inform others: Talk to your elders, staff, and children—they’re often soft targets.
What to Do If You’re Targeted
- Don’t panic. Just disconnect or ignore the message.
- Report the number on WhatsApp or your phone’s block/report option.
- Call the cybercrime helpline: 1930 (India)
- File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
- Report in ScamYodha https://blog.scamyodha.com/scamyodha-2/
Help Should Be Real
Being kind is a strength—but in today’s world, smart kindness saves more lives than blind trust. By staying alert, you protect not just your wallet but also the spirit of genuine giving.
Let’s help where it matters—and stop scammers from turning our compassion into their profit.
