What it looks like
WhatsApp forward: "PM scheme: every citizen gets Rs 5,000. Register before tonight. Pay Rs 99 processing fee here: [link]"
How the government scheme subsidy scam works
- A forward, ad or call promotes a scheme: subsidy, free solar pump, loan, laptop, cash transfer or job.
- The link leads to a fake website using government logos and photos of leaders.
- You are asked to fill in Aadhaar, PAN, bank details and sometimes an OTP.
- Then comes a 'registration', 'processing' or 'approval letter' fee.
- Sometimes a fake app (APK) is shared, which can read your SMS and OTPs.
- No benefit arrives, and your money or identity details are misused.
Red flags
- A fee to register for a government scheme, paid to a personal UPI or bank account.
- A website that does not end in .gov.in (in India) or .gov (in the US).
- Viral WhatsApp forwards promising cash to everyone.
- Deadline pressure like 'register by tonight'.
- Asked for an OTP, UPI PIN or card details.
- An 'approval letter' that arrives before you ever applied.
- A request to install an app from a link instead of an official store.
What to do
- Check the scheme on the official ministry website, or ask at your local government office or Common Service Centre.
- Check viral claims with PIB Fact Check before sharing or paying.
- Never pay a fee or share an OTP for a government benefit.
- If you shared bank details or an OTP, call your bank at once.
- In India, call 1930 at once and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Fast reporting gives the best chance to freeze the money.
- US: real grants are listed free at grants.gov. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Protect your family
Farmers, elders and job-seekers are prime targets. Tell them to bring any 'scheme' message to you or the local office before filling anything in, and to never forward such messages without checking.
Also known as: fake yojana scam, PM scheme registration fee scam, government grant scam
Questions people ask
How do I check if a government scheme is real?
Look for it on the official ministry or .gov.in website, ask at a government office, or check PIB Fact Check. Real schemes do not take fees through WhatsApp links.
Is there a registration fee for PM Kusum or other schemes?
PIB Fact Check has warned about fake letters asking for registration fees for PM Kusum. Do not pay fees to anyone who contacts you about a scheme.
Does the US government call people offering grants?
No. The FTC says no government agency will contact you to demand that you pay to get a grant.