Indian Railways- Government Issues Stern Warning – Major Update for Lakhs of Pensioners

Indian Railways: The Ministry of Railways has released an official advisory encouraging pensioners to be vigilant against cyber fraud. Recently, there have been multiple reports of fraudsters contacting pensioners while pretending to be railway officials.

What is this new fraud method?

Fraudsters are reaching out via calls, texts, or WhatsApp, impersonating senior railway officials and asking for information under various pretenses:
PPO Update: Claiming to update the Pension Payment Order (PPO).
KYC Verification: Pretending to redo the KYC for the pension account.
Additional benefits: Offering additional pension benefits or payment of arrears as bait.

Railway’s strict warning (government directive)

The Ministry of Railways has made it clear that the Railways never sends links for updating PPOs or service records. No Railway official will ever ask for your bank account number, password, OTP, or any sensitive financial information through phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or social media. Avoid clicking on any links that claim to update your pension.

What should you do?

Do not share your bank details or personal information with calls from unknown numbers. If you have an elderly person living with you, make sure to inform them and clarify the situation. If you receive a suspicious call or message, promptly contact your local police cyber cell (National Cyber Crime Helpline Number: 1930) and notify your relevant railway administrative office.

For any inquiries regarding pensions or pay commissions, only visit the official railway website. Remember, do not disclose your bank details under any circumstances, especially if pressured by threats of pension cancellation.