Cyber Fraud Risk Under Indiramma Housing Scheme: VC Sajjanar Warns Telangana Residents
The warning comes amid the commencement of the ₹10,000 Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) payment process. Cyber fraudsters may pose as government officials or representatives of the housing scheme and mislead applicants into transferring money or sharing sensitive information.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar has warned Telangana residents of possible cyber fraud attempts targeting beneficiaries and applicants of the ongoing Indiramma Housing Scheme.
In a public advisory issued on Sunday, Sajjanar cautioned that cybercriminals may attempt to deceive applicants through fake APK files, fraudulent WhatsApp links, phishing websites and fake phone calls to steal their personal and banking information.
The warning comes amid the commencement of the ₹10,000 Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) payment process. Cyber fraudsters may pose as government officials or representatives of the housing scheme and mislead applicants into transferring money or sharing sensitive information.
Sajjanar clarified that brokers or middlemen have no role in the Indiramma Housing Scheme. He said the house allotment process is transparent and that if an applicant is not allotted a house, the EMD amount deposited by them will be refunded directly to their original bank account.
The Police Commissioner urged citizens not to trust anyone who promises a house in exchange for money paid to a third party. He also warned people against responding to messages claiming that applications will be cancelled due to missed deadlines or failure to make an immediate payment.
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Sajjanar advised residents not to download APK files at the request of unknown individuals or install screen-sharing applications such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer, as cybercriminals can misuse them to gain access to mobile phones and bank accounts.
He further urged citizens to avoid clicking on suspicious WhatsApp or SMS links and never share their Aadhaar details, bank information or OTPs with anyone. He clarified that a UPI PIN is required only to make payments and is never needed to receive money or obtain a refund.
For information related to the Indiramma Housing Scheme, the government has provided the helpline number 040-24603572.
People who fall victim to cyber fraud have been advised to immediately contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to help authorities take timely action and prevent fraudulent transactions.
