Punjab Newsline | Mohali
With Independence Day just a day away, greeting messages are expected to flood WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. Along with patriotic wishes, users may also receive messages claiming they have won a special Independence Day gift or reward.
Punjab Police has issued a public alert warning that such messages could be part of a cyber fraud campaign. According to the advisory, cybercriminals often take advantage of festivals, national events and other special occasions to send fake links disguised as gift offers, lucky draws or reward claims.
The police cautioned that clicking on these links could allow fraudsters to hack a mobile phone, steal personal information, gain access to banking details and potentially empty a victim’s bank account.
In a message shared through social media, Punjab Police urged people not to click on any suspicious link claiming to offer a special gift, even if the message appears to have come from a known contact or a familiar phone number.
The advisory further stated that if someone accidentally clicks on such a link and suspects that their phone may have been compromised, they should immediately contact the cybercrime helpline and report the incident without delay.
Police have also appealed to citizens to verify any promotional or reward-related message through official sources and avoid sharing unknown links with friends, family members or social media groups.
