Call Forwarding Scam in India: Never Dial a Code That Starts With *
Today a “courier company” called me, and within minutes I was looking at a call forwarding scam India’s cybercrime authorities have been warning about. The caller said his delivery boy could not reach me with a letter from a bank or a government office, and that the parcel would not be delivered unless I called the delivery boy and gave him my address. Then an SMS arrived with a “number” that began with *21*. I recognised it the moment I saw the star sign. Do you?
Most of us expect couriers. We order things, we wait for documents, we get calls like this every month. That is exactly why it works. One small error here can be a costly one.
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What happened to me
The caller was polite and in a hurry. His story had three parts: a letter from a bank or the government, a delivery boy who could not find me, and a deadline. Then came the push to call the delivery boy myself.
The SMS that followed carried what looked like a long phone number. It started with *21*. A phone number never starts with a star. That code is a call forwarding command.
How the courier call forwarding scam works
The pattern is the same in every city where it has been reported.
- A caller claims to be from a courier or delivery company. The story is a stuck parcel, a wrong address, or a document that needs “verification”.
- You are told to “coordinate with the delivery person” on a number that comes by SMS.
- The number starts with *21*, *401*, or something similar, followed by a mobile number and a hash.
- You dial it, thinking you are calling the delivery boy. Nobody rings. Your carrier quietly switches on call forwarding instead.
- From then on, calls meant for you ring on the scammer’s phone.
A Delhi woman told The Tribune she was sent *21* followed by a mobile number and hung up almost at once because something felt wrong. Nilesh Shah of Kotak AMC posted that he got two missed calls and an SMS with the same kind of code, and a follow-up call asking him to dial it.
What is the *401# call forwarding scam?
It is the same trick with a different code. Axis Bank’s fraud awareness page describes callers asking people to dial a code in the form 401* followed by the delivery person’s ten digit mobile number, presented as a must-do for the parcel to arrive. Whether the code is *21* or *401*, the result is the same: your calls are diverted to a number the scammer controls.
Why a forwarded phone is dangerous
Call forwarding is a real telecom feature, meant for times when your phone is off or out of coverage. In a scammer’s hands it does three things.
- Bank verification calls and voice OTP calls reach the scammer, not you.
- WhatsApp and Telegram can verify an account by phone call, so those calls get diverted too.
- The scammer can pose as you to your contacts.
You see nothing on screen and your phone keeps working, which is why people do not notice until money moves. The scam also needs no app and no link, and it works without internet.
Rajasthan Police reported more than 1,500 courier-related cyber fraud complaints in two months. Their advisory is blunt: no delivery service needs you to dial a code to confirm a package.
Can scammers hack WhatsApp with call forwarding?
Yes, this is a documented risk. Tamil Nadu cybercrime police have warned that WhatsApp and Telegram authentication calls get diverted to the fraudster, which lets criminals take over social media accounts. Security sites such as BleepingComputer have reported the same trick. Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp so a stolen call alone cannot take your account.
The codes to know
These are standard GSM codes. Menus differ by phone and operator, so treat the table as a guide.
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| *21*number# | Forwards all calls to that number (the usual scam code) |
| *61*number# | Forwards calls you do not answer |
| *67*number# | Forwards calls when you are busy |
| *401*number# | Described by Axis Bank in similar courier scams |
| *#21# | Checks whether unconditional forwarding is on |
| *#62# | Checks forwarding when your phone is unreachable |
| ##002# | Cancels all call forwarding |
My rule is simpler than the table: a code that starts with * or # is not a phone number. Never dial one because a stranger told you to.
How to check if call forwarding is on
Dial *#21# and *#62# and read the result on screen. You can also look in your phone settings. On Android it is Phone, then Settings, then Call Forwarding. On iPhone it is Settings, then Phone, then Call Forwarding.
If you already dialled it: how to disable call forwarding in 5 minutes
- Open your dialer, type ##002# and press call. This cancels all forwarding. Your operator may show a confirmation message.
- Dial *#21# and *#62# to check that forwarding is really off.
- Check your bank and UPI apps for any transaction you do not recognise. If you see one, call your bank at once and ask them to block the account or card.
- Call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline, or file a report at cybercrime.gov.in.
- If ##002# does not work or anything still looks wrong, call your mobile operator’s customer care from another phone and ask them to confirm forwarding is off.
- Tell family and friends, in case the scammer used your number to reach them.
If your phone was lost rather than tricked, my lost phone checklist covers SIM, UPI, bank and IMEI steps.
How to spot the call
- It is about a bank or government letter, which makes you nervous enough to act fast.
- You are told to call the delivery person, not to wait for a visit.
- You are asked to dial a code or to send an SMS from your own number.
- The caller sounds hurried and says the parcel will be returned if you do not act now.
- Real couriers use their official apps, tracking pages and customer care numbers. They do not ask you to type commands.
If the call worries you, hang up and check the parcel yourself on the courier’s official website or app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the call forwarding scam in India?
A caller posing as a courier agent sends you a code beginning with *21* or *401* and asks you to dial it. The code turns on call forwarding, so your incoming calls, including bank verification and OTP calls, go to the scammer.
Is *21* a phone number?
No. It is a call forwarding command. Dialling *21*, then a mobile number and #, forwards all your calls to that number.
How do I cancel call forwarding?
Dial ##002# and press call. Then dial *#21# to confirm it is off, and check your phone’s call settings.
Does this scam steal my SMS too?
Standard call forwarding diverts voice calls. Some news reports say SMS can be affected too, and the exact effect can vary by operator. The calls are the proven danger: voice OTPs, bank calls and WhatsApp verification calls.
Where do I report it?
Call 1930 or use cybercrime.gov.in. Tell your bank right away if money has moved.
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If this was useful, send it to the people who trust every courier call, especially parents and grandparents. Here is a version you can paste into WhatsApp:
Courier scam alert. If any “courier” or “delivery boy” asks you to dial a number that starts with * or #, do not. It is not a phone number. It is a code that forwards your calls, including bank and OTP calls, to a scammer. If you already dialled it, dial ##002# immediately and call 1930.
Small errors cost real money. Repost this and help someone else spot it first.
Satyendra K Dwivedi, author of BE CYBER SMART
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