Scroll Adda: India's scam epidemic

Feb 13, 2026 - 20:30

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We all know someone who has been scammed over the internet. It could be a dramatic digital arrest scam or something milder like a phishing scam.

In her new book, Scamlands, journalist Snigdha Poonam explores this epidemic. For many Indians, desperation drives them to become scammers. Shut out by the iron gates of caste, communal prejudice and poverty, tricking the elite is often the only way out of the shackles Indian society.

On the other side, for the people getting scammed, it is often a moment of deep shame. Scammers gain their confidence and then abuse it for money. The experience is so jarring that in many cases, people do not even admit to being scammed.

Producer: Raghav Kakkar

Editor: Hyder Habib

Host: Shoaib Daniyal...