Fact Check: Currently, a message is going viral on social media, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook. This message claims that if citizens fill out the form under the ‘SIR campaign’ launched by the government, they will be given Rs 16,000 directly in their bank accounts. Many citizens are trying to fill the form in a hurry, falling for the lure of this financial benefit. However, this claim has come to light that it is completely false and fake.
What exactly is the ‘SIR’ campaign?
As per the directions of the Central Election Commission, a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign is currently being carried out across the country and in Maharashtra. This is a purely administrative and legal process of the Election Commission. The sole objective of this campaign is to check the names of voters in the electoral roll, remove duplicate names, make corrections in address and age and update the electoral roll. To ensure the accuracy of the electoral roll, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are going door to door collecting these forms. Fact Check
The truth behind the claim of 16 thousand
Neither the Election Commission nor the Central and State Governments have announced any such financial assistance . The process of revision of the voter list and any kind of financial assistance have nothing to do with it. Cyber criminals have created this fake message of Rs 16,000 to attract citizens and steal their personal information. Fact Check
Growing risk of cyber fraud
Cyber criminals are defrauding citizens in Maharashtra by luring them with Rs 16,000 in the name of filling the ‘SIR form’. Since money is being embezzled from bank accounts by pretending to be election officials, asking for OTP over the phone or through suspicious APK files, citizens have been appealed to keep personal information confidential by not clicking on unknown links.
Fact Check
A suspicious link or APK file is given with this message. When a citizen installs that APK file in his mobile with the lure of 16 thousand, cyber criminals take control of his mobile. Recently, a shocking incident has come to light where a retired employee in Mumbai was cheated of a whopping 11 lakh 28 thousand rupees on the pretext of this SIR form. In some places, people are being extorted money in the name of OTP and ‘processing fee’ by fearing that their voter card will be cancelled. Fact Check
Citizens should not fall prey to any unauthorized messages or financial lures on social media. To register or correct your name in the voter list, you should use only the official website of the Election Commission or the official Voter Helpline App . If you receive any such message on your WhatsApp, you should delete it immediately without forwarding it and keep yourself safe from cyber fraud. Fact Check