Rajasthan Police Issues Urgent Cyber Fraud Warning Linked to Digital Census
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Key Takeaways
Jaipur, April 16 (NationPress) The Rajasthan Police has issued a crucial advisory, alerting the public about an alarming increase in cyber fraud schemes disguised as the Central Government's forthcoming digital census initiative.
Following instructions from Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh, the Cyber Crime Branch has warned that scammers are pretending to be census officials to obtain sensitive personal and financial data from unsuspecting victims.
Law enforcement officials report that cybercriminals are utilizing three primary tactics to deceive individuals.
Firstly, they make deceptive calls impersonating census officials, asking for vital information, including family details, Aadhaar numbers, and bank account information. Often, victims are coaxed into downloading screen-sharing apps like AnyDesk or TeamViewer, enabling fraudsters to remotely access their mobile devices and steal funds from banking applications.
The second tactic involves criminals visiting residences while posing as survey officials, equipped with tablets to appear credible as they gather household data. During this encounter, they may request a one-time password, which is actually associated with unauthorized banking activities.
The third method consists of fraudulent SMS alerts warning citizens that failing to update their census information could lead to the loss of government benefits. These messages often include harmful links that, when clicked, can jeopardize personal and financial security.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime) Shantanu Kumar Singh confirmed that the Government of India has established a 'Self-Enumeration' option for the digital census, urging citizens to use only the official website, www.se.census.gov.in.
He mentioned that the self-enumeration period will be available from May 1 to May 15, 2026, and highlighted that the entire process is entirely free. Any request for payment, whether for verification codes, QR codes, or registration, should be viewed as a clear indicator of fraud.
The advisory encourages the public to stay alert by avoiding dubious links and messages, particularly those promising free rations or government incentives. Individuals are urged not to disclose one-time passwords, bank account details, or Aadhaar information to unknown parties, and to verify the identity of anyone visiting their homes for census-related purposes. Residents should also confirm credentials with their local Booth Level Officer if necessary.
If citizens encounter any cyber fraud or suspicious activities, they are advised to take immediate action by dialing the national cyber fraud helpline number 1930, reaching out to the cyber helpdesk at 9256001930 or 9257510100, reporting the issue on the official portal https://cybercrime.gov.in, or visiting the nearest police or cyber police station.