Pension arrears or allowance release "processing fee"
A caller says pension arrears or a dearness allowance hike are due and a processing fee must be paid to release them.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- A caller who says he is from the pension office, treasury or your bank tells you that pension arrears or a dearness allowance increase has been approved for you.
- To release it, he asks for a processing fee to a UPI ID, or for your bank details, Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your phone.
- The fee goes to the scammer, the arrears never come, and the OTP may be used to take money from your account.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Sir, I am calling from the pension department. Your arrears of Rs 1,86,000 under the new DA order are ready. Pay Rs 2,500 processing fee on this UPI to release them today.
To credit your arrears we have sent an OTP to your mobile. Please tell me the number for verification.
Red flags
- Your own money released only after a fee
- Fee paid to a personal UPI ID
- Caller asks for OTP or PIN
- "Offer closes today" pressure
The one question to ask
If the arrears are really yours, why can the fee not simply be cut from them?
Already paid or shared details?
Call your bank on the number printed on your card, or visit your branch, to block UPI and net banking. Call 1930 at once and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Check any arrears only with your bank branch or pension office in person.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Fake call to "update" your life certificate
- Fake Pay Commission arrears message
- Agent charging a fee to release your PF or pension