Govt warns citizens to beware of fraudsters asking for Covid19 vaccine registration

Amid fears of a new coronavirus strain, the central government is ramping up COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and has already conducted dry run in four states. Meanwhile the cyber cell of Thane Police on Tuesday warned citizens to be careful of fraud vaccination emails or calls. 

Many people have received emails and calls regarding the COVID-19 vaccination process in India, where the fraudsters ask people to register themselves in order to get priority during COVID-19 vaccination.

These fraudulent ask for Aadhaar card details, email ID, and other information of the receiver, after which they ask them to authenticate their Aadhaar number by sharing a One Time Password (OTP). However, as soon as the OTP is given, money is siphoned off from the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the receiver. 

"Fraudsters are calling and asking for COVID-19 vaccine registration. They ask for Aadhar, email-id etc. Subsequently to authenticate Aadhar, they ask for OTP. The moment OTP is given, money is siphoned off from Aadhar linked bank account.Please beware and sensitise," the advisory read.

Cyber Dost’, the official Twitter handle of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cyber-security division recently threw light on a new ploy by fraudsters to dupe gullible citizens. “Due to apprehension associated with COVID-19, Cyber criminals are playing various tricks. They may offer to “pay and register” in getting priority to receive first CORONA VACCINE, through malicious link, mail, message or phone call. Be aware otherwise you may get defrauded,” read the tweet.

Due to apprehension associated with COVID-19, Cyber criminals are playing various tricks. They may offer to “pay and register” in getting priority to receive first CORONA VACCINE, through malicious link, mail, message or phone call. Be aware otherwise you may get defrauded.

— Cyber Dost (@Cyberdost) December 28, 2020

कोरोना वँक्सीन रजिस्ट्रेशनसाठी अनोळखी इसम फोन कॉल्स करून नाव, ईमेल, आधारकार्ड इ. माहिती मागतात. तसेच आधारकार्ड नोंदणीकृत करण्यासाठी OTP मागतात. OTP शेअर केल्यावर ऑनलाईन फसवणूक होत असल्याच्या घटना निदर्शनास येत आहे. नागरिकांनी अशा फोनकॉल्स/लिंक/मेसेजेस यांना प्रतिसाद देऊ नये. pic.twitter.com/CprE3Tsyte

— Thane City Police (@ThaneCityPolice) December 28, 2020