Cybersecurity experts at CloudSEK have uncovered a scheme called “BJP Free Recharge Yojana.” Scammers are claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is offering free mobile recharges for three months leading up to October 15, supposedly as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign.

During elections, voters carefully evaluate the pros and cons of political parties before casting their votes. It’s a critical time when politicians make various promises and offers to sway voters.

Beware !

While voters meticulously weigh the merits and demerits of political parties during elections before making their decision at the ballot box, it’s also a time when politicians present their most appealing promises, vying for the trust of the electorate.

Unfortunately, such periods also present fertile ground for bad actors to exploit unsuspecting individuals through fraudulent schemes disguised as election campaigns. Cybersecurity firm CloudSEK uncovered one such scheme dubbed the “BJP Free Recharge Yojana.”

What’s the deal with this scam?

So, there’s this scam going around claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving out free mobile recharges to everyone for three months until October 15. They say it’s part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign.

To make it seem legit, they’ve got a website with supposed testimonials from people who say they’ve already got their free recharge. They’re urging others to hop on the bandwagon.

How does the scam work?

It’s kind of like those old-school phishing tricks. They ask you to share the link with your friends on WhatsApp to get the recharge, kinda like those chain letters.

Once you’re on the website, a pop-up shows up saying “Get Free Recharge.” You pick your mobile service provider and type in your number. Even if you put in a random 10-digit number, it takes you to the recharge page. That’s a big red flag.

Then, they trick you into thinking you’ve got your recharge, but only if you share the offer with a bunch of WhatsApp groups or contacts. It’s a sneaky move to keep the scam rolling.

CloudSEK, the folks investigating this, say it’s all about using social pressure to keep the scam going. Tricky, right?

How can you spot these scams?

Keep an eye out for clues in the website URL.

If it says “http” instead of “https,” it’s not secure.

Look for trusted domain names like .com or .org. If the site name looks weird or has typos, it’s probably a scam. And if you see a warning icon next to the URL, steer clear!

Also, make sure to check official government websites for any real schemes or plans. And hey, CloudSEK made sure to tell the Election Commission and all the other folks involved about this scam to help shut it down.