Fact Check: Is the Govt Giving ₹46,715 to Every Citizen? (January 2026)

A viral WhatsApp message claiming that the Ministry of Finance is providing financial aid of ₹46,715 to all citizens has been officially debunked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on January 5, 2026. The government has labeled this a phishing scam designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting users.

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1. The Anatomy of the Scam

The fraudulent message typically follows a specific pattern to lure victims into a trap:

• The Bait: A promise of “financial support” worth ₹46,715 to help with “financial difficulties.”

• The Urgency: Claims that the aid is for a limited time and targets “poor and financially troubled people.”

• The Hook: A suspicious link that redirects users to a website designed to look like an official government portal.

• The Data Theft: Once on the site, users are asked to enter sensitive details:

  • Aadhaar Number and PAN Card details.

  • Bank Account and Mobile Number.

  • OTPs (which allow scammers to bypass two-factor authentication).

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2. Official Clarification from PIB

The PIB Fact Check unit issued a categorical denial via its social media handles:

“A message claims the Ministry of Finance is offering financial aid of ₹46,715. This claim is FAKE. The Government of India is not running any such scheme. Do not click on suspicious links or share personal info.” — PIB Fact Check, Jan 5, 2026

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3. How to Protect Yourself

• Check the URL: Official Indian government websites always end in .gov.in or .nic.in. Be wary of URLs that use .com, .org, or strange alphanumeric strings.

• Never Share OTPs: No government official or scheme will ever ask for your OTP or bank password over a call or text.

• Verify on Official Channels: Before forwarding any such “Yojana” message, check the official PIB Fact Check website or follow them on X (formerly Twitter) @PIBFactCheck.

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