The Cyber Crime Cell of the Hazratganj Police Commissionerate in Lucknow has issued an urgent alert for pensioners warning them against a new form of cyber fraud. According to officials, they are targeting elderly individuals who receive pensions, particularly those who need to submit their Jeevan Pramaan Patra (Life Certificate) annually to continue receiving pension benefits.
How Scammers Are Tricking Pensioners?
Fraudsters are reportedly contacting pensioners under the pretext of helping them submit their life certificate and are duping them into sharing sensitive personal and financial information. Below is the steps fraudsters follow:
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Fraudsters are pretending to be officials from the Pension Department.
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They call pensioners, claiming they are helping to update the pensioner’s Jeevan Pramaan Patra online.
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The callers ask for sensitive information such as, PPO number (Pension Payment Order), Aadhaar number, Bank details etc
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Most dangerously, they ask for an OTP (One-Time Password) sent to the pensioner’s phone and claim this is part of the verification process but in reality, the OTP is used by the fraudsters to access bank accounts, make unauthorized transactions, or link the victim’s Aadhaar to a fraudulently created profile.
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OTP sharing can lead to bank fraud and identity theft.
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Once they have the PPO, Aadhaar, and OTP, scammers can drain pensioners bank account and can modify the pension records. Pensioners identity can also be used for other illegal activities.
Police Commissionerate’s Cyber Crime Cell advice to pensioners
Authorities have urged all pension holders to remain vigilant and avoid sharing personal details or clicking on suspicious links. They are advised to use only official government portals or authorized service centers for submitting their life certificates. The Police Commissionerate’s Cyber Crime Cell urges pensioners to:
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Never share OTPs, bank details, Aadhaar numbers, or PPO numbers over the phone—no matter who the caller claims to be.
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To update the Jeevan Pramaan Patra, pensioners should personally visit an authorized center, such as: banks, common service centers (CSCs), Pension Disbursing Authorities or use the official Jeevan Pramaan app/portal themselves.Your local police station
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Pensioners are strongly advised not to engage with the caller and should not share any information. Should report the call immediately to the Cyber Crime Cell or can also report online via the Government of India’s cybercrime portal: https://cybercrime.gov.in
This scam preys on the trust and vulnerability of older citizens. Authorities are spreading awareness to prevent financial and identity fraud. Family members are encouraged to educate elderly relatives about this scam and help them handle digital procedures safely.