Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam

How Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam Works

Overview: The Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam preys on Indians seeking to claim unclaimed assets or inheritances supposedly held by government agencies. Scammers impersonate officials from entities like RBI or IEPF, luring unsuspecting families through emails, SMS, or WhatsApp messages. Targeting those who have lost track of old accounts or shares, the scam often affects middle-class or senior citizens who remember a family member’s unclaimed property. The danger lies in identity theft, huge financial losses, and emotional stress for families genuinely entitled to inheritance. How It Works: 1. Victims receive a message claiming a large unclaimed fortune (e.g., ₹50 lakh) is waiting in a dormant bank account or IEPF portfolio. 2. The message provides a link to a counterfeit portal that closely resembles an official site (like "rbi-claims.in" instead of the real iepf.gov.in or rbi.org.in). 3. Victims are encouraged to "verify" their information or complete a claim, entering Aadhaar number, PAN, bank details, and sometimes uploading sensitive KYC documents. 4. The portal then demands a payment—often called a "processing fee"—ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 via UPI to a personal account. 5. Once paid, all communication stops. Personal data is misused for further fraud. India Angle: Fraudsters exploit India’s multi-platform environment, targeting WhatsApp, SMS, email, and even Facebook Messenger. They often use regional languages and reference local events, such as government drives like "Your Money, Your Right." The scam particularly targets cities where unclaimed assets are common—metros and towns with an elderly population. Victims are usually family heirs in the 30-65 age range, often those less digitally aware. Real Examples: - "Dear user, as per RBI records, ₹39 lakh in unclaimed funds belonging to Late Mr. Singh is held in your name. Claim now at rbi-funds-verify.com. Processing charge ₹9,999 via UPI." - "Your IEPF shares eligible for transfer: submit KYC & release funds. Log in: iepf-india-help.net." Red Flags: - Unsolicited messages claiming large inheritance. - Web address[ADDRESS_REDACTED]. - Requests for Aadhaar, OTP, or sensitive KYC on third-party websites. - Demand for ‘processing fees’ via UPI or to private accounts. - No official letterhead or verification documents. Protective Measures: - Always verify web address[ADDRESS_REDACTED].org.in, iepf.gov.in). - Never share sensitive information (Aadhaar, OTP, PAN) on unverified links. - Refuse to pay any fees up front—legitimate services never ask for processing fees to claim. - Discuss family asset information with trusted members to avoid confusion. - Enable two-factor authentication for banking and government logins. If Victimised: - Immediately stop all communication and do not share further data. - Report the fraud to cybercrime.gov.in and the 1930 helpline. - Notify your bank to freeze the compromised account/card and monitor for misuse. - File a complaint with the RBI, MCA, or police if personal data or funds are lost. Related Scams: - Fake PF Withdrawal Sites using similar portals to harvest KYC data. - Phishing emails pretending to be from SEBI or IRDA for insurance claims. - Bogus Mutual Fund Recovery Scams promising to unlock ‘lost’ units for a fee.

Visual Intelligence:

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

Who Does Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam Target?

General public across India

Red Flags — How to Identify Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam

• Suspicious links mimicking '.gov.in' sites
• Requests for Aadhaar/OTP or personal banking details
• Payment demands for processing or verification fees
• Unsolicited claim messages citing large sums
• No official government correspondence or reference numbers

What To Do If You Encounter Fake Government Portal Inheritance 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 Fake Government Portal Inheritance 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 Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam?

Overview: The Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam preys on Indians seeking to claim unclaimed assets or inheritances supposedly held by government agencies. Scammers impersonate officials from entities like RBI or IEPF, luring unsuspecting families through emails, SMS, or WhatsApp messages. Targeting those who have lost track of old accounts or shares, the scam often affects middle-class or senior citizens who remember a family member’s unclaimed property. The danger lies in identity theft,

How does Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam work?

Overview: The Fake Government Portal Inheritance Scam preys on Indians seeking to claim unclaimed assets or inheritances supposedly held by government agencies. Scammers impersonate officials from entities like RBI or IEPF, luring unsuspecting families through emails, SMS, or WhatsApp messages. Targeting those who have lost track of old accounts or shares, the scam often affects middle-class or se

How to protect yourself from Fake Government Portal Inheritance 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 Fake Government Portal Inheritance 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.