News Brief
VHP Raises Alarm About Fake Messages On Social Media Soliciting Donations In Guise Of Contribution For Ram Mandir
Stockpile of bricks sent by devotees for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
As the eagerly awaited consecration ceremony for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya approaches, a disconcerting scheme to defraud the faithful in the temple's name has been exposed as reported by NDTV.
Recently, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has raised an alarm about cybercriminals circulating social media messages, soliciting donations in the guise of temple contributions.
These messages contain QR codes, and unsuspecting individuals who scan and pay, end up transferring money to the fraudsters.
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal has reported the issue to the Home Ministry and police authorities in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
He emphasised that the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust overseeing the temple's construction, has not authorised anyone to collect funds.
In a video statement, Bansal conveyed that they recently discovered attempts to illegitimately collect funds in the temple's name. He stressed that the trust has not given authorisation for any fundraising activities.
Bansal has also reached out to law enforcement agencies, urging strict action against such frauds to prevent people from falling victim to scams.
He emphasised that the joyous occasion of the temple consecration is not an opportunity for donations, and people should exercise caution.
The matter came to light after social media messages and phone calls urged individuals to contribute to the temple. VHP workers received information from someone who received such a call.
A VHP worker, in turn, contacted the number, revealing the fraudulent tactics employed by the scammers.
The VHP has shared an audio clip of the recorded phone call, cautioning the public about the scam.
In the call, the VHP worker pretends to be a potential donor, and the alleged fraudster, upon learning about the donation intent, requests a WhatsApp number to send a QR code.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
