New Delhi Bureau
Summary: A WhatsApp message claiming an Rs 8,000 Diwali bonus from the government is completely fake. The Press Information Bureau flagged the claim on 2 November 2026, warning that the link in the message leads to a fraudulent website that seeks personal and banking information. Do not click unknown links, do not share OTPs or UPI PINs with anyone, and if money is lost, report it immediately on the cybercrime helpline 1930.
The festive season brings crowded markets, shopping, gifts and greetings. It also brings fraudsters, who use the rush and excitement of festivals to trap people. This time, a message spreading rapidly on WhatsApp claims that the central government is giving an Rs 8,000 Diwali bonus in the name of the Prime Minister. The message carries a link and asks readers to click it and fill in their details to receive the money.
Many people who received the message have asked a simple question: has the government really announced such a benefit? The direct and clear answer is no. No such scheme offering an Rs 8,000 Diwali bonus is being run by the government. The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has described the claim as completely fake and has urged people to stay alert.
What the viral message claims
The viral message claims that the Government of India is distributing Rs 8,000 as a special Diwali benefit in the Prime Minister’s name. It usually includes a picture and a link. Clicking the link opens a website that may look like an official government portal, but it is in fact a fake website. Fraudsters use this fake website to collect people’s information.
It is important to understand that a government scheme is never announced only through a WhatsApp forward. When the government offers financial assistance or a bonus, the information is made public through official portals, official releases and reliable channels. Treating a forwarded message alone as proof of a scheme can be dangerous.
How the scam works
The scam begins with an ordinary-looking message. It offers free money, so that the reader clicks the link without thinking carefully. Once the link opens, the fake website asks for a name, mobile number, bank account details and other personal information. In some cases, a processing fee may also be demanded in the name of releasing the bonus.
Fraudsters may further ask people to send money through UPI or to download an application. If a person follows these instructions, money may be taken from the bank account. Personal information stored on the mobile phone may also be stolen. An application downloaded at the fraudster’s request can harm the phone and give fraudsters access to it.
That is why this message should not be dismissed as a mere rumour. It is a planned phishing fraud, in which the lure of free money is used to trap people. Phishing means obtaining genuine information through a fake website or message. The Prime Minister’s name has been misused in this case so that the message appears trustworthy.
What PIB Fact Check said
The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit issued a clear warning on 2 November 2026 about this message. In its fact check, it said that the claim of a Diwali bonus in the Prime Minister’s name is false. The message leads people to a fake website that seeks personal information. People have been advised to beware of such phishing scams.
The warning also says that people should not click on suspicious links and should not share one-time passwords, or OTPs, with unknown persons. OTPs and UPI PINs are confidential details that a bank or the government never asks for through a phone call, message or link. If any message or caller asks for an OTP, that itself is a sign of fraud.
This warning was shared after an alert circulated by the Cyber Crimes Unit Hyderabad. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has also flagged the message as a phishing attempt. The warning, therefore, has come not from one place alone, but also from agencies concerned with cyber security.
How to identify a fake message
A few points can help identify a fake message. The first sign is the promise of free money. Government schemes have eligibility conditions, documents and a defined process. No scheme promises Rs 8,000 to every person directly, without any process. The second sign is pressure to act quickly. Fraudsters often claim that the offer is available only for a limited time, so that the reader does not get time to think.
The third sign is an unknown link. If a message contains a link to an unfamiliar website and asks the reader to fill in details there, caution is needed. The fourth sign is a demand for a fee or an OTP. If a processing fee, a UPI payment or an OTP is demanded in the name of releasing a bonus or benefit, it is fraud. The fifth sign is the misuse of a big name. Using the Prime Minister’s or the government’s name is an attempt to make the message look official, but the use of a name alone is not proof of truth.
Recognising these signs matters because fraudsters change their method with every festival. Sometimes it is cashback, sometimes a lottery, sometimes a bonus and sometimes a government scheme. The method changes, but the pattern of greed and haste remains the same.
What to do, and what not to do, on receiving the message
If you receive the Rs 8,000 Diwali bonus message, do not act in haste. Do not click on any unknown link, and do not forward the message to others. Forwarding the message widens the reach of the fraud and can put your contacts at risk as well.
Do not share banking information, OTPs or UPI PINs with anyone. For information about any government scheme, trust only the concerned government website. If a scheme is genuine, its details will certainly be available on an official portal. Do not treat a scheme as genuine only because it arrived on WhatsApp.
If you have clicked the link by mistake but have not filled in any information, still stay alert. Do not download any unknown application on your phone, and keep an eye on your bank account activity. If any suspicious activity appears, contact your bank at once.
If you have clicked the link or shared information
If you have clicked the link and entered personal or banking details, contact your bank immediately. Use the bank’s official customer care number or banking application, inform the bank about the possible compromise, and ask it to secure your account and payment services. If you have shared an OTP or UPI PIN, inform the bank without delay and change your banking passwords and UPI credentials where applicable.
If you have downloaded a suspicious application, avoid using it and do not grant it further permissions. If you suspect that the device is being accessed remotely, disconnect it from the internet and seek help to remove the malicious application. If you have authorised a UPI transaction, contact your bank immediately and report the unauthorised payment. Do not wait for the transaction to be investigated on its own.
If you have forwarded the message to others, stop circulating it and alert the people who received it not to click on the link or share their details. A timely warning can save many people from falling into the trap.
If you have lost money, how to complain immediately
If you have sent money after responding to this fraudulent offer, act at once. First, call the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, and report the suspected financial fraud. While complaining, keep ready the details of the transaction, including the amount and the payment reference, if available.
Also contact your bank’s official fraud or customer support team immediately. Ask for help in flagging the transaction and securing your account. Then file an online complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in, giving the relevant details. Preserve screenshots of the WhatsApp message, the fraudulent website, phone numbers, payment confirmations, transaction IDs and any communication with the suspected fraudsters, as these details may help the authorities investigate.
Keep the complaint acknowledgement number safely, and share it with your bank while following up on the reported transaction. Reporting fraud as soon as possible gives the authorities an opportunity to act in time. It is important to note, however, that an early complaint does not guarantee that the money will be recovered, while delay reduces the chance further.
Where to report fake government messages
Misleading messages claiming government benefits can also be reported to the PIB Fact Check unit. The unit can be contacted on phone number +91 8799711259 and by email at factcheck@pib.gov.in. Reporting such a message helps protect others, because the same message may be reaching thousands of people at the same time.
For cybercrime complaints, the 1930 helpline and the cybercrime.gov.in portal are available. Using these channels, you can not only register your own complaint but also help in action against the fraudsters.
General precautions during festivals
During festivals such as Diwali, online shopping, sending gifts and making payments all increase. In this rush, fraudsters try to trap people through fake offers, fake websites and fake customer care numbers. Every offer should therefore be checked before it is accepted. Before clicking any link, check whether it belongs to an official website.
Also share this warning with family members, especially those who tend to trust WhatsApp forwards. Often people treat a message received from a trusted contact as genuine, but a forwarded message can also be fake. Judge the message by its truth, not by who sent it.
Never enter bank account, UPI or card details in any link, form or unknown application. In a genuine government scheme, details are sought only on an official portal, not through a WhatsApp link. If a message frightens you or tempts you with free money, pause, think, and verify it from an official source.
What happens next
With the PIB Fact Check warning, this message has been proved fake. Fraudsters, however, may return with a new name and a new offer. People should therefore not read this warning as just another news item and forget it. It needs to reach family and friends, so that no one else falls into the trap.
Cyber security agencies issue warnings from time to time about such fake messages. People should pay attention to these warnings and verify any government scheme only from an official website. The joy of Diwali is complete only when both money and information remain safe.
If you have also received such a message, do not forward it, do not click on the link, and report the suspicious claim to PIB Fact Check. Alertness is the simplest and most effective way to stay safe from this kind of fraud.
Disclaimer: This news has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. If any fact is found to be incorrect, a correction will be published.
