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Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police have warned citizens against fake messages promising a ₹8,000 Diwali gift from PM Narendra Modi.
What Is the ₹8,000 Diwali Gift Scam?
Fraudulent messages circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a cash grant of ₹8,000 for every Indian citizen on the occasion of Diwali. The messages contain links directing recipients to websites where they are supposedly required to complete certain steps to receive the benefit.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police have issued an advisory warning that the claim is fraudulent. According to the police, these messages are designed to attract people with promises of financial assistance and persuade them to disclose sensitive personal and banking information. Deputy Commissioner of Police Rohidas Pawar has urged citizens not to trust such unsolicited offers or open the accompanying links.
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How Are Fraudsters Targeting Citizens?
Police said the suspicious links may redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to collect Aadhaar and PAN details, bank account information, one-time passwords and other confidential credentials. Fraudsters can misuse the information to impersonate victims, access banking services and conduct unauthorised financial transactions.
Some messages may also demand registration or processing fees before releasing the supposed government grant. In other cases, recipients may be asked to approve UPI transactions or download applications that could compromise their mobile phones. Such applications may expose sensitive information stored on the device, increasing the risk of financial fraud and identity theft.
What Have Police Advised Citizens?
In the advisory issued by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate, DCP Pawar specifically cautioned citizens against making payments to claim the purported benefit. People have been advised not to disclose Aadhaar or PAN details, bank account information, OTPs, ATM PINs, CVVs or UPI PINs through unfamiliar websites or links.
The police have also urged citizens not to forward suspicious messages and to verify information about government schemes only through official government websites. The advisory emphasised that unsolicited financial offers should not be treated as genuine merely because they mention the Prime Minister or appear to be connected with a government programme.
Have Similar Fraudulent Messages Appeared Elsewhere?
Similar messages promising Diwali-related financial benefits have reportedly circulated in other parts of India. Cybersecurity authorities in Telangana and the Press Information Bureau’s fact-checking unit have also identified the ₹8,000 cash grant claim as fraudulent. Police in Ludhiana have separately warned residents against suspicious messages offering Diwali cash benefits.
Authorities have advised people who have suffered financial losses through such schemes to report the incident immediately through the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The warnings underline the importance of verifying financial assistance claims before sharing personal information, making payments or accessing links received through social media platforms.
