Hyderabad, Oct 29 The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) on Thursday alerted the public about a fraudulent WhatsApp message circulating in the name of the prime minister, falsely claiming that the central government is providing an Rs 8,000 Diwali cash benefit to all Indian citizens.
The message contains a suspicious website link and urges recipients to click on it to claim the purported benefit.
The public is advised not to believe, click on or forward such unverified messages, TGCSB Director Shikha Goel said in a release.
“The message is designed to mislead people by exploiting the festive season and creating the impression of an official government scheme. Such suspicious links may lead users to fraudulent websites that attempt to collect personal and banking information, facilitate unauthorised UPI transactions, or expose devices to malicious software,” she said.
The authenticity of any government cash-benefit scheme should be confirmed through official government websites and verified announcements, Goel said.
TGCSB advised citizens never to disclose OTPs, UPI PINs, passwords, bank account details or other sensitive information on unverified websites. People should not pay any fee or provide banking credentials to claim a benefit advertised through unsolicited messages, the release said.
Citizens should also avoid forwarding such messages, as doing so may expose others to cyber fraud, the release further said.
TGCSB urged the public to remain vigilant during the festive season and follow the cybersafety message: “Pause, Think, Verify” before clicking links, sharing information or making digital payments.
(PTI News)
