Delhi Police warn of fake WhatsApp message promising Rs 8,000 Deepavali gift from PM
Delhi Police warn a viral WhatsApp message promising a Rs 8,000 Deepavali gift from the PM is fake. The PM and government are not involved.
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Source: thehindu.com · published
What happened
The Hindu reported on 7 November 2026 that the Delhi Police's Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit issued a cyber safety advisory ahead of Deepavali. Among the scams flagged is a viral WhatsApp message falsely attributed to the Prime Minister or the Central Government promising Rs 8,000 as a Deepavali gift to citizens. The Prime Minister and the government are impersonated and not involved.
How the scam works
Messages like this use the authority of the government and the festive mood to persuade people to click a link and register for the gift. Such links commonly lead to pages that collect personal and bank details, ask for OTPs or UPI approvals, or push the visitor to share the message with contacts before claiming, which spreads it further.
The advisory also warns of related festive scams: malicious APK files circulated as Deepavali greeting cards or wedding invitations that can take over a phone once installed; fake e-commerce websites resembling Amazon, Meesho and Flipkart offering discounts of up to 90%; callers impersonating courier executives; fraudulent customer care numbers used to get victims to install remote-access apps such as AnyDesk and UltraViewer; and fake charity appeals using fraudulent QR codes and UPI IDs. The brands named are impersonated and not involved. Scanning a QR code or entering a UPI PIN is only needed to pay money, never to receive it.
Police advise not clicking unsolicited gift, lottery or scratch-card links, not installing APK files received in chats, and checking government schemes only on official government websites. Anyone who has lost money should call the 1930 helpline quickly, as rapid reporting can help freeze funds, or report at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Source
The Hindu report, 7 November 2026: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-police-issue-cyber-advisory-ahead-of-deepavali-warn-against-fake-gift-links-and-festive-shopping-scams/article71675705.ece
Red flags
- A WhatsApp message claiming the PM or government is giving Rs 8,000 for Deepavali.
- Greeting cards or invitations sent as APK files.
- Shopping sites resembling Amazon, Meesho or Flipkart with discounts of up to 90%.
- Customer care numbers that ask you to install AnyDesk or UltraViewer.
- Charity appeals with QR codes or UPI IDs you cannot verify.
If you were targeted
- 1Do not click links in messages promising cash gifts or festival rewards.
- 2Never share bank details, ATM PINs, OTPs or passwords on links from messages.
- 3Check offers only through the company's or government's official app or website.
- 4Do not forward the message to others.
- 5Report cyber fraud to the 1930 helpline or www.cybercrime.gov.in.