As more people dive into digital platforms, the risks have shot up too. Cyber fraud is on the rise, and it’s not just your regular earnings that scammers are after anymore; they’re now targeting pension funds as well. They’re going after folks through government pension schemes like the National Pension Scheme and Atal Pension Yojana, draining their accounts in the process. It’s a scam fest out there, all under the guise of these legitimate programs.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has pointed out that fraudsters are setting up fake versions of the National Pension System and Atal Pension Scheme. They’re warning everyone to be cautious and not to trust any info about NPS that comes through SMS, calls, emails, or sketchy websites and apps.
PFRDA has issued a heads-up about this. They clarified that you can’t withdraw all your money from NPS, and scammers exploit this by promising full access to funds if you pay them a fee, which is just a trick to steal your cash.
Here’s how to spot a scam: PFRDA mentioned that fraudsters often create fake websites and use misleading email addresses that look a lot like the real deal, which can confuse people.
For the official website, remember it’s www.pfrda.org.in. Scammers will try to lure you in with sites that have similar but incorrect domains.
Regarding SMS alerts, PFRDA only sends messages from their official ID. If you receive a message with NPS or APS in the subject line, don’t trust it; it could lead you straight into a cyber trap.
PFRDA has set up an official helpline and SMS service for anyone wanting to file a complaint about the Atal Pension Scheme or NPS. If you need to reach out about NPS, you can call 1800 110 708 or send an SMS to 56677. For issues related to the Atal Pension Yojana, the helpline number is 1800 110 069.