PF withdrawal or KYC "agent" asking for a fee or your login
An "agent" or a fake website offers to help you withdraw your provident fund or fix your PF KYC, and takes a fee, your UAN password or an OTP.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- You get a call, or find a website or social media page, offering quick help to withdraw or transfer your PF, or to fix a KYC problem on your PF account.
- The "agent" asks for a fee in advance, or for your UAN, password, Aadhaar, PAN, bank details and the OTP that arrives on your phone, and a fake site that looks like the EPFO portal may ask for the same.
- The fee is lost, no claim is filed, and the details and OTP you shared can be misused to get into your accounts.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
PF withdrawal in 3 days, 100% guaranteed, even if your KYC is not complete. Our PF consultant will do everything for you. Service charge only Rs 1,500. Apply now at pf-withdrawal-help[.]in
Sir, I am calling from the PF office. Your KYC is pending, so your claim will be rejected. Tell me your UAN password and the OTP you just received and I will update it now.
Red flags
- A fee for any PF service
- Asks for your UAN password or OTP
- Website not on epfindia.gov.in or epfo.gov.in
- "Guaranteed" withdrawal despite KYC problems
- Caller claiming to be from the PF office
The one question to ask
Why pay anyone for a PF service that EPFO gives free on its own portal and the UMANG app?
Already paid or shared details?
If you paid a fee, call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with the call details, website address and payment receipt. If you shared your UAN password, change it at once on the EPFO member portal, which you can reach through epfindia.gov.in, and if you shared an OTP or bank details, call your bank on the number printed on your card. You can also raise a grievance with EPFO through EPFiGMS or the helpdesk listed on epfindia.gov.in.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Fake message promising a PF bonus for people who worked in past years
- Cyber cafe or agent charging large sums for free PF services
- Paid "help" with a higher pension application