Telangana warns against census cyber frauds
HYDERABAD: Cyber criminals are targeting people in Telangana by misusing the ongoing census process and sending fake survey links to mobile phones. Officials warned that fraudsters are circulating links claiming to update government census records and personal details.
Experts said clicking on such links opens fake websites designed to resemble official government portals. Users are then asked to enter personal information, including Aadhaar details, and later prompted to share a One-Time Password (OTP) for “verification”. Sharing the OTP could lead to bank accounts being emptied within minutes.
Officials explain official census procedure
Authorities clarified that official census staff visit households directly to collect information. They only seek basic details and never ask for bank account information, debit or credit card numbers, PINs or OTPs.
Officials also stated that the census process does not involve scanning QR codes or making payments. The government does not collect personal census data through phone calls or WhatsApp messages.
Awareness key to preventing cyber crimes
Cyber security experts urged people not to click on suspicious links sent by unknown persons. In case of fraud, victims should immediately contact the cyber crime helpline number 1930 or file a complaint through the official portal.
Officials said public awareness and vigilance remain the strongest defence against cyber frauds.
