Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad police have warned citizens against fraudulent messages circulating on mobile messaging apps and social media platforms claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a cash assistance of Rs 8,000 for all Indians as a Diwali gift.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rohidas Pawar said the messages contain suspicious links that purportedly help recipients claim the promised financial assistance. “Clicking on these links could expose users’ personal and banking details to fraudsters, leading to financial losses,” Pawar said. Police have advised citizens not to click on links received from unknown sources or pay any fee to claim the purported assistance. They have also cautioned people against sharing their Aadhaar and PAN details, bank account information, OTPs, ATM PINs, CVVs or UPI PINs on suspicious websites. Police have also advised people to check a website’s URL, authenticity and service provider credentials before making any online payment. They have urged citizens not to trust unfamiliar websites or links circulated through search engines and social media platforms.