Your Number Won RBI WhatsApp Global Award: Fact Check

One such email

“From: RESERVE BANK OF INDIA <rbionline@rbidelhi.in>

Sent: Sun, 1 Sep 2019 20:12:27 GMT 0530

Subject: Re:

INSTRUCTION : KINDLY FILL THE PROCESSING FORM FOR TRANSFER.

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA®.

International Remittance Department

Our ref: RBI/2017-2019/398 IN.

(Dir Series) Circular No.78

Payment file: RBI/Ben/015

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT :

We acknowledge the receipt of your mail, We also want to inform you that THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA has been officially notified that your Mobile Number is listed as a beneficiary in the WhatsApp GLOBAL POWERBALL AWARD that was held in (CANADA) On 31ST WEDNESDAY, JULY, 2019. We were also informed that your benefit Amount 2 CRORE 75 LAKH have been officially cleared for PAYMENT at the HIGH COMMISSION OF CANADA in Delhi.

Your Benefited Amount 2 CRORE 75 LAKH has the following File Number: RBT/77012707800901/IND/ Ref Number: 97DH-204701/VOL-5/Batch Number: BKL/108/WB-NL-040/Serial Number: XXX0101000127-81988XX.

NOTE: YOUR WhatsApp NUMBER WAS SELECTED FOR PAYMENT of 2 CRORE 75 LAKH RUPEES BY WhatsApp GLOBAL POWERBALL Program.

All Mobile Network WORLDWIDE supported this WhatsApp GLOBAL AWARD Program by furnishing WhatsApp Data Based with Registered Mobile Numbers which was then collated to facilitate this year Draw which was held in Canada On31ST WEDNESDAY, JULY, 2019. After the Draw, your WhatsApp Number was Selected for this year WhatsApp GLOBAL PAYMENT Of 2 CRORE 75 LAKH RUPEES, The number which your Winning notification was sent s registered to WhatsApp Data Based.

To claim your award you have to provide the information necessary for process:

1. NAME IN FULL:

2. ADDRESS (IN FULL):

3. NATIONALITY:

4. AGE:

5. SEX:

6. OCCUPATION (POSITION HELD):

7. WHATSAPP NUMBER:

8. HOME PHONE OR MOBILE NUMBER:

9. BANK NAME:

10. ACCOUNT NAME:

11. ACCOUNT NUMBER:

12. IFSC CODE:

13. BANK ADDRESS:

14. PASSPORT OR ANY OTHER I D CARDS:

15. EMAIL ID:

Be informed that your Benefited funds of Rs. 2 CRORE 75 LAKH (Two Crore, Seventy Five Lakhs India Rupees) Is ready to be transferred to you. All verification has been done, the telegraphic remittance process has been concluded and the funds is now available for immediate transfer to your local account. Please understand the deadline for transferring your Amount (? 2 CRORE 75 LAKH) is just 48-hrs only.

Meanwhile, The benefited amount which is Rs 2.75 Crores will be transferred to you after the APPROVAL from the High Commission of Canada in Delhi, as it was communicated by the (R.B.I) Governor that any Beneficiary of WhatsApp GLOBAL Award you will have to send ACCOUNT DETAILS and your Aadhar Card copy Or Any Other Id Proof Available to enable us complete the transfer.

For Further Clarification: Contact the Canadian Embassy through the below information:

For: Contact Person: DR. HARRY NELSON of (High Commission of Canada)

Phone Number: 08860057227

Office Address: 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India

Office hours – (Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 5:00pm) / (Saturday – 8:00am to 2:00pm)

Email ID: rbionline@rbidelhi.in

While we await your response, thank you for your time and urgent attention to these vital request as we are committed in delivering high quality banking services to suit your needs.

Thank you,

ANITA SHARMA

GENERAL MANAGER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA®.”

No WhatsApp Global Award

We came across several online complaints and questions about the misleading claims cheating people in the name of WhatsApp Global Award. In contrast to the claims, WhatsApp did not offer any such awards, lotteries or prize monies – notifying people through these text, audio or email messages. In fact, there’s no WhatsApp Global Award. The Reserve Bank of India, RBI is also not part of any such awards. All these messages are rather coming from cyber criminals trying to take advantage of unsuspecting users. At first, they grab personal information in the name of asking users to claim their award or prize money. Then they convince the person has to send some money as payment fee or advance to get the prize money they won. On the other hand, some criminals manage to get bank details from the person and steal their money altogether.

So, we suggest WhatsApp users not to fall for these tall claims and prize monies. It is important to realize not to follow the instructions in the messages and not share any of your personal information with the cyber criminals. Not to mention, these scams operate in different ways and names.