The Smart Way to Stay Safe

One phone call can undo a lifetime of savings. This book helps your family hear it coming.

"Your parcel has illegal items." "Your account will be blocked." "Your son has had an accident." Scammers in India use fear, hope and urgency to make smart, careful people act against their own interest. The Smart Way to Stay Safe explains how they do it, in plain language and in the voice of a friend who cares about you and your family.

INSIDE, YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO:

• Spot UPI, QR-code and collect-request tricks before you approve a payment
• Handle fake bank calls, KYC messages and OTP fraud
• Recognise "digital arrest" and fake-official calls, and end them calmly
• Avoid fake jobs, task scams, loan apps and investment and crypto traps
• Stay safe from romance scams, catfishing, honeytraps and sextortion
• Respond to fake accident, hospital and kidnapping calls, including cloned voices
• Understand data leaks, and protect your phone, accounts and Aadhaar
• Know your rights under RBI rules, including the new compensation scheme from 1 January 2027

WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, the First-Hour Plan tells you exactly whom to call and what to say, from 1930 and your bank to the cybercrime portal. Recovery is never guaranteed, and the book says so honestly. It shows you how to give yourself the best chance.

BUILT FOR REAL FAMILIES: a Family Safety Plan, a 30-Day Scam-Safety Plan with one small task a day, a quick-reference lookup table, and a page for the family phone numbers you need in a hurry.

Written for parents, grandparents, students, working professionals and anyone who has ever thought, "I would never fall for that." This Diwali, Christmas and New Year, give your family something that lasts longer than sweets.