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A viral message circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms falsely attributes an ₹8,000 festive cash benefit to the Prime Minister.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also rejected the claim, warning that the accompanying links lead to fraudulent websites seeking personal information.
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has issued a separate advisory, clarifying that the alleged benefit is not an official government scheme.
Fraudsters circulate messages claiming that recipients qualify for the promised amount and ask them to share the link with five WhatsApp groups or 20 contacts.
The fraudulent website subsequently requests mobile numbers and generates an eight-digit connection code.
Victims are instructed to enter this code under WhatsApp’s Linked Devices settings, allowing hackers to take control of their accounts.
Similar tactics are reportedly being used to compromise Telegram accounts.
Scammers also persuade users to install malicious Android APK files, claiming these applications will help transfer the reward through PhonePe.
Such applications can access SMS messages, OTPs, banking applications and other sensitive information, potentially exposing victims to financial theft.
The Cyber Crime Branch has advised people to:
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or forwarding unverified messages.
Never share OTPs, banking passwords or verification codes.
Check WhatsApp’s Linked Devices and remove unfamiliar sessions.
Enable Telegram’s Two-Step Verification.
Download applications exclusively from trusted sources such as Google Play Store.
Anyone affected by financial cyber fraud should immediately contact the national helpline 1930 or register a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).
Also Read: ‘Pause. Verify. Then Click’: PIB Fact Check’s Reminder To Stop Fake News
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