PM CARES Fund Impersonation Scams — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated May 28, 2026

Severity: CRITICAL | View Full Scam Details

Beware in 2026: PM CARES Fund Impersonation Scams Targeting Indian Donors

Millions of Indians want to help their country by donating to the PM CARES Fund, but scammers posing as the fund’s agents are tricking people into sending money to fake accounts.

What Is the PM CARES Fund Impersonation Scams?

Since the launch of the PM CARES Fund in 2020 to support COVID-19 relief efforts, fraudsters have been exploiting the goodwill and patriotism of Indians by impersonating the official fund. These scams specifically target people in India who wish to donate money to help the country during emergencies. Because the fund enjoys broad public trust, scammers see it as an easy way to steal money from unsuspecting donors.

The scam has become widespread across India, with many victims reported in urban and rural areas alike. Fraudsters create fake websites, WhatsApp numbers, social media pages, or SMS messages that appear nearly identical to legitimate PM CARES portals. Their fake UPI IDs often mimic the official donations account but with small spelling differences that are easy to overlook, especially when donors are in a hurry or emotionally motivated.

Regulators like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) have issued warnings about such scams. They remind people to always use official government websites or verified apps when donating and to avoid sharing personal or banking details on untrusted platforms.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Contact Initiation: Scammers send WhatsApp messages, SMS, or social media posts claiming to be official PM CARES representatives. Sometimes they call directly from numbers mimicking government helplines.

2. Fake Links Shared: The message or call provides a link to a fake donation website or a UPI ID that closely resembles the verified PM CARES accounts. The web address may differ by a letter or use alternate domain extensions.

3. Pressure Tactics: The caller or sender urges immediate donations “to save lives” and may claim that the official platform is overloaded or difficult to access, pushing donors to use their provided link instead.

4. Payment via UPI or Bank Transfer: Victims make donations using UPI apps or bank transfer to the fraudulent UPI ID or bank account presented.

5. Loss Confirmation: After payment, scammers either block the donor or disappear, and the victim’s money is gone with no acknowledgment or receipt from the official PM CARES Fund.

6. Follow-up Attempts: Some fraudsters ask for additional donations or personal details under the pretense of verifying the first payment or issuing tax exemption certificates.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• URLs or UPI IDs that differ slightly from official ones (e.g., “pmcaresfund.in” vs “pmcaresfnd.in”)
• Requests to donate via WhatsApp or SMS links instead of official government portals
• Urgent messages pressuring immediate payment or threatening loss of the donation opportunity
• Unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from PM CARES Fund officials
• Lack of proper receipts or official acknowledgments after donation
• Phone numbers that start with unusual or private series, not government helpline numbers
• Requests for sensitive information like Aadhaar number, bank PIN, or OTP

What Happens to Victims

Victims often lose their donations without any way to recover the money, as these are unauthorized payments to fraudulent accounts. Since UPI payments are instant and irreversible if sent to wrong IDs, banks or the government usually cannot retrieve the funds once transferred. This causes severe financial loss, especially for households donating small or fixed incomes in the hope of helping others.

Emotionally, victims are left feeling betrayed and distressed because their goodwill is exploited. In some cases, scammers misuse the personal details gathered to attempt further frauds, including SIM swapping, Aadhaar misuse, or unauthorized transactions, escalating the harm.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

The Reserve Bank of India cautions users to verify UPI IDs carefully before making payments and to use only secure, official government websites or apps. Their helpline (1800-120-2721) assists with reporting payment frauds.

CERT-In advises the public to avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading unverified apps claiming to be PM CARES portals. The 1930 cybercrime helpline is set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs to report cases of digital fraud and impersonation.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) recommends verifying any calls or messages related to government donations by contacting official government channels directly.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Always donate through the official PM CARES Fund website or government portals—do not rely on forwarded messages or third-party links.
2. Check UPI IDs carefully for spelling mistakes or differences; the official IDs are clearly published on government sites.
3. Never share your OTP, PIN, Aadhaar number, or bank login credentials with anyone over phone or WhatsApp.
4. Ignore urgent requests pressuring immediate donations through unfamiliar channels.
5. Use the latest version of authentic UPI or bank apps with transaction alerts enabled.
6. Verify any caller claiming to be from PM CARES Fund by hanging up and calling official helplines.
7. Report suspicious messages or calls to the 1930 cybercrime helpline immediately.

What to Do If You've Been Targeted

1. Immediately contact your bank or UPI provider to report the unauthorized transaction; request a freeze on your account if needed.
2. Change your UPI PIN and any related online banking passwords.
3. File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in, detailing the scam and sharing screenshots or call records.
4. Call the 1930 cybercrime helpline for guidance on next steps.
5. Inform your mobile service provider if you feel your SIM or number has been compromised.
6. Alert family and friends to prevent them from falling victim to similar scams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I verify the official PM CARES Fund donation portal?
A: Always visit the official government website with URLs ending in “.gov.in” or verified portals linked from the Indian government’s home pages. Avoid clicking forwarded or unsolicited links on WhatsApp or social media.

Q: Can I get my money back if I donated to a fake PM CARES Fund account?
A: Unfortunately, UPI and bank transfers to fraudulent accounts are usually irreversible. Report the case to your bank and file a cybercrime complaint, but recovery is rarely guaranteed.

Q: What should I do if I receive a message or call asking for donations to PM CARES Fund?
A: Do not respond or click any links. Verify independently by contacting official government helplines, and report the incident to the 1930 cybercrime helpline.

For more help, verify messages or donations at BharatSecure.app and report any suspicious contacts by calling 1930 immediately.

Disclaimer: This article describes a pattern of fraud reported in public sources for public-safety awareness. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice. To request correction or removal of any content, write to hello@bharatsecure.app.