Railway pensioners beware: Ministry says 'no official will ask for bank details, OTP'

The Railway Ministry has issued a stern warning to pensioners after reports of cyber fraudsters posing as Railway officials to steal personal and financial information. Fraudsters have been making fake phone calls and sending SMS or WhatsApp messages under the pretext of PPO updates, KYC verification, or additional pension benefits.

In an official advisory, the Ministry stated, “Railways do not send links or messages for updating PPO or service records. No Railway official is authorized to seek bank details, OTPs, passwords, or any confidential information through phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or social media.” Pensioners are urged to stay vigilant, educate their family members, and report any suspicious calls or messages immediately to the Police Cyber Cell and the concerned administrative office.

The warning comes amid a broader surge in cyber scams targeting senior citizens and pensioners. Bank of Baroda has also cautioned its customers about fraudulent “Pensioner Card” offers circulating online. According to the bank, fraudsters are sending misleading messages containing links or requests for sensitive information such as OTPs, PINs, CVV numbers, Aadhaar, PAN, and other banking details.

The bank emphasised, “Please verify any such communication only through official Bank of Baroda channels or by visiting your nearest branch.”

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