AI Generated Image
A fake message circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms is falsely promising an Rs 8,000 festive cash benefit in the name of the Prime Minister.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has dismissed the claim as fraudulent and cautioned users against clicking on the accompanying links.
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has issued a separate advisory, clarifying that no such benefit is part of an official government scheme.
According to the advisory, fraudsters ask recipients to share the message in five WhatsApp groups or forward it to 20 contacts to claim the promised amount.
The links direct users to fraudulent websites that seek their mobile numbers and generate an eight-digit connection code.
Victims are then instructed to enter the code under WhatsApp’s Linked Devices settings. This allows fraudsters to gain access to their accounts.
Scammers reportedly use similar methods to compromise Telegram accounts.
Scammers are circulating malicious Android APK files, claiming that users need to install them to receive the money through PhonePe. These applications can, however, access SMS messages, one-time passwords (OTPs), banking applications and other sensitive information, putting users at risk of financial fraud.
The Cyber Crime Branch has urged people not to click on suspicious links or forward unverified messages.
Users should never disclose OTPs, banking passwords or verification codes, and must regularly check WhatsApp’s Linked Devices section to remove unfamiliar sessions.
The advisory further recommends enabling Telegram’s Two-Step Verification and downloading applications only from trusted platforms such as the Google Play Store.
Anyone who loses money to cyber fraud should immediately call the national helpline 1930 or report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in.
Also Read: ‘Pause. Verify. Then Click’: PIB Fact Check’s Reminder To Stop Fake News
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
