Received a message promising Rs 8,000 Diwali gift from PM Modi? Read this first

NEW DELHI: A message claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is offering a cash benefit of Rs 8,000 to every Indian citizen to celebrate Diwali has been widely circulating on social media and other platforms. The message claims that the Prime Minister has approved the scheme and asks recipients to click on a link to receive the money.

However, authorities have clarified that the message is completely fake. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has warned that fraudsters are attempting to give their scams an official appearance by exploiting the festive season.

Authorities have cautioned that clicking on such links could redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and banking information. Such links could also expose devices to malicious software, potentially enabling fraudsters to access sensitive information and carry out unauthorised financial transactions. The Cyber Security Bureau has advised people neither to click on such links nor to forward them to others.

The advisory also warns against sharing Aadhaar details, banking information and one-time passwords (OTPs) on unverified websites. People have also been urged not to pay any fees to claim benefits advertised in messages received from unknown phone numbers or sources.

Anyone who loses money through an unauthorised transaction should immediately contact their bank and report the incident. They can also call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or register a complaint through the official cybercrime reporting portal.