The Indian government has issued a warning to pensioners about a fraudulent scheme circulating on WhatsApp. As the deadline for submitting the Jeevan Pramaan certificate approaches, scammers are exploiting this opportunity to target vulnerable pensioners. The Jeevan Pramaan certificate is a mandatory document pensioners must submit annually to continue receiving pension payments. Fraudsters are sending fake messages on WhatsApp, falsely claiming that pensioners' payments will be stopped unless they update their Jeevan Pramaan certificate or submit personal details via a provided link.
According to a spokesperson from the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), these fraudulent messages are designed to steal sensitive personal and financial information from unsuspecting pensioners. The scam typically involves impersonating government officials and claiming the recipient’s pension is at risk due to an outdated Jeevan Pramaan certificate. The messages include a link or form asking for personal information, such as bank account details or Pension Payment Order (PPO) numbers. Once this information is submitted, scammers can use it for identity theft or financial fraud.
The government has issued clear guidelines to help pensioners protect themselves from falling victim to this scam. Firstly, official communication regarding Jeevan Pramaan certificates is never conducted through WhatsApp or social media. Pensioners are advised to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Furthermore, they should never share personal information, such as bank account details or PPO numbers, via WhatsApp.
For legitimate queries regarding the Jeevan Pramaan certificate, pensioners are encouraged to contact their banks directly or visit the official CPAO website. Reporting suspicious messages is crucial in combating the scam. Pensioners can forward these messages to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or report them to their local police station.