How It Works
Scammers advertise fake government schemes — subsidies, PM Yojana benefits, stimulus payments, or pension top-ups — usually via WhatsApp forwards or fake websites resembling government portals. Victims are asked to pay a "processing fee" or share Aadhaar/bank details to "claim" benefits that don't exist.
Real Example
WhatsApp forward: "Govt announces ₹50,000 subsidy for all Aadhaar holders under new scheme — apply now: gov-yojana-apply[.]in" — a fake site collecting Aadhaar and bank details for a non-existent scheme.
Red Flags 🚩
- Scheme details spread mainly via WhatsApp forwards, not official news
- Website domain doesn't end in gov.in or nic.in
- Asked to pay a fee to "release" a government benefit
- Too-good-to-be-true amounts for simply having an Aadhaar card
Protection Steps 🛡️
- Verify any government scheme only on official .gov.in or .nic.in websites.
- Genuine government benefits never require an upfront "processing fee."
- Don't share Aadhaar or bank details on unfamiliar websites.
- Check news of real schemes through official government press releases.