Fact Check: The 'Free Mobile Recharge Yojana' Message Is a Scam
Viral WhatsApp forwards promise free mobile recharges from the government if you click a link. PIB Fact Check says no such scheme exists and the links aim to defraud users.
Claim: The central government is giving free mobile recharges to all Indian users under a "Free Mobile Recharge Yojana". Click the link to claim yours.
Verdict: Fake.
What the message says
Versions of this forward have circulated on WhatsApp and other platforms for years. Some promise a Rs 239 recharge valid for 28 days; others promise three months of free recharge, sometimes timed around elections or festivals. They usually carry a link and urge you to share the message with friends before the offer "expires".
What PIB Fact Check found
PIB Fact Check has repeatedly flagged these messages as fake. In its posts, it has stated that:
- The Government of India is not running any such scheme.
- Such messages are an attempt to defraud people.
There is no official announcement of a free recharge scheme on any government website.
How the scam works
The link usually leads to a website designed to look official. It may:
- ask for your mobile number and an OTP, which can be misused to take over your accounts;
- ask for bank or card details to "activate" the offer;
- push you to install an unknown app that can read your messages; or
- show advertisements while asking you to forward the message to more groups, spreading the scam further.
Red flags to watch for
- Promises of free money, data or gifts from "the government" through a forward
- Spelling mistakes and strange web addresses that are not on gov.in or nic.in domains
- Urgent deadlines and requests to share the message with many contacts
- Requests for OTPs or personal details
What to do
- Do not click the link or enter any details.
- Do not forward the message.
- Real government schemes are announced through official websites and PIB press releases.
- Report suspected fraud messages through the Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi.
- If you have lost money or shared your OTP, call 1930 immediately or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
Bottom line
There is no free recharge scheme from the government. Treat any message offering one as a phishing attempt.
Sources
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