Beware of Fake RBI Messages: PIB Warns Against Scammers

The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has cautioned against fake WhatsApp messages allegedly from the RBI, used by fraudsters to steal personal information. Users are urged to verify credentials through official channels, avoiding APK file downloads and suspicious links amid rising cyber fraud incidents.

The Press Information Bureau's (PIB) Fact Check division has issued a warning concerning fraudulent WhatsApp messages implicating the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Fraudsters deploy APK files and fabricated threats of account suspension to extract banking and personal information from unsuspecting victims.

In a recent advisory on social media platform X, PIB Fact Check identified the circulating message as a hoax and recommended that recipients refrain from downloading files or sharing financial details. The message purports to originate from the RBI, accompanied by an APK file, alleging that a user's bank account is involved in suspicious activities, urging them to provide financial data to avert account restrictions.

The Fact Check unit dismantled this claim, stating, "This message is fake." They warned that these deceitful messages are crafted to harvest personal and financial data. Screenshots shared by PIB Fact Check reveal the messages assert the RBI has circulated a notice about "risk control measures" and "unusual transaction activities" linked to company accounts.

Further advising the public, PIB Fact Check urged against downloading unknown applications from such messages, emphasizing caution against installing unfamiliar APK files or interacting with dubious links.

The agency clarified the RBI's communication strategy, affirming that the bank only uses two verified blue-tick numbers on WhatsApp. Citizens are encouraged to authenticate any RBI-related information via official channels and consult the RBI website for genuine updates. These warnings come in response to increasing cyber fraud cases where scammers impersonate government and financial entities to gather sensitive information. (ANI)