Rs 1000 Paytm Diwali gift WhatsApp text a scam, warns Hyderabad CP

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Commissioner of Police VC Sajjanar on Saturday, November 7, warned the public against fake messages offering Diwali gifts.

Sajjanar took to X and explained that cyber fraudsters are circulating fake WhatsApp messages claiming Paytm is offering Rs 1,000 Diwali gifts.

According to Sajjanar, the misleading message urges recipients to click on a link and claim the supposed cash reward immediately. To make the offer appear genuine, the fraudsters are also circulating messages saying, “I thought it was fake, but I actually received Rs 1,000. You should try it too.”

“Such claims are intended to create trust and encourage more people to click on the fraudulent links,” he said. Sajjanar warned that fraudsters use festive occasions to cheat people.

He urged the public not to click on suspicious links or share their bank account details, ATM PINs, OTPs, passwords or other personal information on unverified websites. They should also avoid forwarding such messages to friends and family without verifying their authenticity.

The commissioner urged the public to verify Diwali offers on Paytm’s official website and not to trust fraudulent messages on social media. Sajjanar requested that the public report such messages on the national cybercrime portal and the cybercrime helpline 1930.

'దీపావళి కానుక' పేరుతో సైబర్ కేటుగాళ్ల వల.. ప్రజలారా అప్రమత్తం!

‘పేటీఎం దీపావళి కానుకగా అందరికీ రూ.1,000 నగదు ఇస్తోంది.. వెంటనే క్లెయిమ్ చేసుకోండి’ అంటూ సోషల్ మీడియాలో, ముఖ్యంగా వాట్సాప్‌లో వైరల్ అవుతున్న సందేశం పచ్చి మోసం.

‘నేను ఫేక్ అనుకున్నా.. కానీ నిజంగానే రూ.1,000… pic.twitter.com/Azhm7ZTDi5

— V.C. Sajjanar, IPS (@SajjanarVC_IPS) November 7, 2026

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.