Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam

How Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam Works

Overview: The Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam capitalises on genuine RBI and government initiatives meant to help citizens recover unclaimed funds. Fraudsters impersonate officials from RBI, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, or new campaigns like 'Your Money, Your Right,' claiming victims have substantial unclaimed deposits or shares. These scams are dangerous because they use real government logos and exploited public trust in the drive to return unclaimed assets. How It Works: Victims receive emails, SMS, or WhatsApp messages that appear official—often with RBI or ministry logos. The message claims the government or bank has identified unclaimed money or shares belonging to the recipient, and there is an urgency to act within a few days. Victims are sent links to fake portals (mimicking UDGAM or IEPF) that collect sensitive personal and banking information or request activation fees (₹2,000–₹20,000) via UPI or direct transfers. In some cases, the fraudsters even call from phone numbers with familiar dialing codes (011, 080), asking for OTPs to complete the 'transfer.' India Angle: This scam is rampant in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, and targets both salaried employees and retirees likely to forget about old bank accounts, insurance, or shares. The reach is pan-India due to the broad use of mobile banking, UPI, and government digital campaigns. Real Examples: Victims receive SMS like "Dear Customer, as per RBI UDGAM portal, ₹35,42,000 unclaimed in account ends 9132. Claim at udgam-portal-info.co.in before 48 hrs." Another example: Email with fake MCA logo: “Funds matched in IEPF database. Complete KYC urgently for release. Pay ₹3,500 activation fee via UPI now.” Red Flags: - Links to websites ending in .co.in or other non-.gov.in domains. - Deadline or expiry warnings—"claim expires in 48 hours". - Phone calls/SMS from official-sounding numbers demanding OTPs. - Requests for fees to process or release unclaimed money. - Spelling errors or slightly altered domain names. Protective Measures: Only access RBI’s official UDGAM portal (udgam.rbi.org.in) or IEPF (iepf.gov.in) for claims—never enter personal details or make payments through other links. Government services do not charge fees for returning your own money. Avoid sharing account or OTP details with unknown callers. Attend official financial literacy camps for assistance. If Victimised: Quickly report the incident through the 1930 cyber helpline, register a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in, and inform your bank to monitor or block suspicious transactions. Gather screenshots and all correspondence to support your case. Related Scams: - Fake tax refund phishing links. - SMS claiming Aadhaar-linked subsidy deposits. - IEPF share recovery scams disguised as 'public interest' initiatives.

Visual Intelligence:

BharatSecure's AI has identified this as a used in scams targeting Indian users.

Who Does Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam Target?

General public across India

Red Flags — How to Identify Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam

• Websites mimicking government domains but ending in .co.in or .net
• Urgent warnings about claims expiring soon
• Requests for OTPs or activation fees to release funds
• Use of government logos in emails or SMS from non-official addresses
• Grammatical errors or misnamed portals

What To Do If You Encounter Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam

1. Do not click any links or share personal information
2. Block and report the sender immediately
3. Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
4. Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to Report Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam in India

• Call 1930 — National Cyber Crime Helpline (24x7)
• File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
• Contact your bank immediately if money was lost
• Call RBI helpline: 14440 for banking fraud

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam?

Overview: The Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam capitalises on genuine RBI and government initiatives meant to help citizens recover unclaimed funds. Fraudsters impersonate officials from RBI, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, or new campaigns like 'Your Money, Your Right,' claiming victims have substantial unclaimed deposits or shares. These scams are dangerous because they use real government logos and exploited public trust in the drive to return unclaimed assets. How It Works:

How does Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam work?

Overview: The Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam capitalises on genuine RBI and government initiatives meant to help citizens recover unclaimed funds. Fraudsters impersonate officials from RBI, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, or new campaigns like 'Your Money, Your Right,' claiming victims have substantial unclaimed deposits or shares. These scams are dangerous because they use real

How to protect yourself from Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam?

Do not click any links or share personal information Block and report the sender immediately Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to report Bogus Government Unclaimed Asset Recovery Scam in India?

Report to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline). You can also contact your local police station's cyber cell.

Verify Any Suspicious Message

Check any suspicious message, link, or call for free at bharatsecure.app. BharatSecure uses AI to detect scams in real-time and protect Indian users.