With upcoming local body and panchayat elections approaching in Rajasthan, authorities have warned of a potential surge in cyber fraud risks. In response, Rajasthan Police have released a comprehensive advisory targeting voters, election candidates, political workers, and officials on poll duty. Officials noted that cyber criminals might attempt to target individuals through fake voter links, one-time passwords, QR codes, phishing emails, and artificial intelligence-driven deepfakes or fake news during the electoral period.
Guarding Against Fake Voter Links and OTPs
According to the advisory, cyber tricksters may send deceptive messages via WhatsApp and SMS claiming that recipients can check their names in the voter list or that their polling booth has been changed. These messages often contain malicious links designed to initiate scams upon being clicked. Law enforcement has strongly urged citizens to refrain from clicking on any unverified or suspicious links.
Relied Sources for Electoral Information
For any details regarding voter lists or polling procedures, citizens are advised to consult only the official websites of the State Election Commission Rajasthan and the Chief Electoral Officer Rajasthan. The police also emphasized that no one should share OTPs if an individual claiming to be an election commission or department official requests them for voter card updates, verification, or other electoral processes. Bank details, UPI PINs, and private information must never be disclosed to strangers, as sharing an OTP can directly lead to financial fraud.
Vigilance Required on Deepfakes and Social Media
During the campaign season, manipulated videos, audio clips, speeches, and deepfake content concerning political figures could be circulated across social media platforms. Rajasthan Police appealed to the public not to accept any viral material as truth without official verification and to thoroughly check information before forwarding it. Candidates and political workers have been advised to secure their social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and WhatsApp by enabling two-step verification, using strong passwords, and avoiding sharing login details via unknown links.
Precautions for QR Codes and WhatsApp Group Admins
The police have also flagged risks associated with UPI links and QR codes arriving under the guise of election donations and fundraising. Before scanning any QR code or entering a PIN, users must verify the complete transaction details. Furthermore, the advisory reminded everyone that receiving money never requires entering a UPI PIN. WhatsApp group administrators have been cautioned to permit only trusted members to post messages in campaign-related groups and to utilize the restrict-to-admins option when necessary to curb the spread of misleading or objectionable content.
Guidelines for Personnel Deployed on Election Duty
Officers and staff members assigned to poll duty have been instructed not to share sensitive information regarding electoral data, EVMs, or VVPATs on personal devices, unsecured networks, or public Wi-Fi. They were also cautioned against opening election-related circulars, links, or attachments arriving from unknown email addresses without prior verification.
Immediate Reporting Steps in Case of Fraud
If any citizen falls victim to digital financial fraud, Rajasthan Police urged them to dial 1930 immediately to register a complaint without delay. Notifications can also be submitted at the nearest police station or cyber police station, as well as through the national cyber crime reporting portal. Dedicated cyber helpdesk numbers 9256001930 and 9257510100 are also available in Rajasthan. Emphasizing that the initial phase known as the golden hour is critical in cyber crime incidents, authorities reiterated that a vigilant voter is a safe voter, urging people to verify sources promptly and report suspicious activities right away.
