Hello Friends, Today, I’m sharing with you a real and recent experience that could have cost me a lot. It’s related to a credit card scam attempt involving my new SBI credit card.

I hope this story helps you stay alert and safe.

How It Started—Receiving the SBI Credit Card

A while ago, I applied for the SBI PULSE credit card. A few days later, I received the card by post. However, since I already had an active HDFC credit card, I didn’t take the SBI card activation too seriously.

The card had to be activated within 30 days, but due to work commitments and travel, I couldn’t find time. Just a few days before the deadline, I received a call.

The Scam Call—A Clever Trap

The call started like this:

“Hello sir, are you Chetan? I’m from the SBI Card department.”

At first, I thought it was a follow-up call to activate my card. But the person on the call said:

“Since your card is not activated, please deactivate it now. Otherwise, you’ll be charged an ₹800 annual fee.”

I told him I would activate the card in a day or two and didn’t want to deactivate it. But he insisted:

That got me thinking. I already had another card, so I thought maybe I should deactivate this new one for now.

So I said,

“Okay, please deactivate it. Don’t charge me any fee.”

WhatsApp Message – The Real Danger

He replied:

“I’ve sent you a file on WhatsApp—SBICard.apk. Please download and install it. I’ll guide you through the steps.”

When I opened WhatsApp, I saw the file. But then something felt off. I asked:

“Isn’t this app available on the Play Store?”

He said,

“No sir, this is a private app—only we staff can send it.”

This statement shocked me.

Why would a government-authorized bank send an app via WhatsApp and not through the Play Store? I refused to download the file and ended the call.

I Was Lucky—But It Could’ve Been Worse

Thankfully, no money was deducted from my account.

But if I had downloaded and installed that malicious APK file, I could’ve lost access to my phone, bank accounts, and personal data.

How to Stay Safe from Credit Card Scams

• Download only official bank apps from the Play Store.
• Don’t click on links from unknown SMS or WhatsApp numbers.
• Don’t share your OTP, CVV, or card number with anyone.
• Enable real-time transaction alerts on SMS and apps.
• Report suspicious activity to the bank and file a complaint on https://cybercrime.gov.in.

Conclusion

I feel lucky that I was alert at the right time. But many people fall into these traps every day.

This blog is a warning and a lesson—always verify, never rush, and use only trusted apps and channels.

Please share this blog with your friends and family so they don’t become the next victim.