The Press Information Bureau’s fact-check unit has dismissed a viral message claiming that individuals can secure loans at just 2% interest via a prime minister’s scheme using Aadhaar, warning of potential cyberfraud attempts and advising reliance on official sources.
The Press Information Bureau’s fact-check unit has dismissed a viral message claiming that people can get loans at 2% annual interest under a prime minister’s scheme by using an Aadhaar card. According to the PIB, the message is fake and should not be shared, as it may be part of a cyberfraud attempt.
The warning comes amid a wider pattern of loan-related scams that exploit public interest in government support programmes. The Times of India reported earlier this year that PIB Fact Check had already debunked a fraudulent SMS making a similar claim, warning that such messages can be used to steal personal information and money from bank accounts.
Financial Express has also reported on other false loan offers circulating online, including a fabricated approval letter said to promise ₹10 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in exchange for a processing fee. In that case, PIB said no such loan approval process exists and urged people not to fall for requests for advance payments.
Authorities are advising people to rely only on official government websites and verified channels for information about welfare schemes. PIB also encourages users to send suspicious messages, emails or images to its fact-check service for verification rather than clicking links or calling numbers included in dubious offers.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
