Prayagraj — Beginning in November, millions of central and state pensioners across India will once again be required to submit their annual life certificates. But what should be a routine bureaucratic exercise has increasingly become fertile ground for cybercriminals. Alarmed by rising fraud, the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) has directed banks to send precautionary text messages warning pensioners about the risks.
India has nearly 6.8 million central pensioners, and in recent months, several have fallen victim to scams. Impersonating government officials, fraudsters contact retirees by phone or text, demanding Aadhaar numbers, bank account details, or other personal information. Exploiting fears that pensions could be suspended, the criminals draw pensioners into their net.
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“Life certificates or pension payments never require the sharing of personal information over phone calls,” officials have emphasized.
Cybercrime experts warn that the threat is far from minor. Professor Triveni Singh, former IPS officer and noted cybercrime specialist, said: “Fraudsters are constantly innovating, and pensioners have become their soft targets. They create panic, suggesting pensions will be blocked unless details are shared. Pensioners must remember: no government body will ever seek such sensitive data by phone.”
In Prayagraj alone, the state manages pensions for more than 55,000 retirees. Observers note that a lack of digital literacy, combined with increasingly sophisticated schemes, makes pensioners particularly vulnerable.
The CPAO has clarified that the verification process can only be completed through authorized channels. Pensioners’ associations have also launched awareness campaigns, aiming to protect retirees from what is being called a “new cyber trap.”