Fake government services: messages, calls and apps
16 companies in this group, each with the lines scammers use and how to verify.
Income Tax Department (e-filing)The Income Tax Department runs the e-filing portal where Indian taxpayers file returns,…EPFO (Provident Fund)The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation manages provident fund accounts, pensions and…UIDAI (Aadhaar services)UIDAI is the authority that issues Aadhaar numbers and runs Aadhaar updates, downloads…PAN servicesPAN services cover applying for, correcting, reprinting and linking the Permanent…Passport SevaPassport Seva is the Ministry of External Affairs service for applying, renewing and…DigiLockerDigiLocker is a government service for storing and sharing digital copies of documents…Parivahan (e-challan)Parivahan is the government portal and app for vehicle registration, driving licences…FASTag (NHAI)FASTag is the electronic toll payment sticker on vehicles, linked to a prepaid account,…IRCTCIRCTC is the Indian Railways service for booking train tickets, meals and tourism…GST portalThe GST portal is where Indian businesses register for Goods and Services Tax, file…CoWIN and health portalsCoWIN and Ayushman-style health portals are government sites for vaccination records,…PM schemes (government benefits)Central government schemes named after the Prime Minister cover farmer income support,…Parivahan SarathiSarathi is the Parivahan portal used for driving licence services such as learner…e-Shrame-Shram is the Government of India's national database for unorganised workers, used to…PM-KisanPM-Kisan is a central government income support scheme for farmer families, paid in…Ayushman BharatAyushman Bharat PM-JAY is a government health scheme that offers cashless hospital cover…
Five habits that help with any of these
- Never share an OTP, UPI PIN, card PIN or CVV with anyone, including someone who says they are from the bank.
- Do not tap links in unexpected messages; open the official app or type the website yourself.
- Call back on the number printed on your card, bill or official app, not the one that contacted you.
- Be careful when someone creates a deadline or asks you to keep the matter secret.
- If money has moved, call 1930 at once and report at cybercrime.gov.in; the first hours matter most.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.