‘This message is fake’: Govt issues warning over fraudulent RBI WhatsApp messages

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Thursday cautioned the public against a phishing scam in which fraudsters are impersonating the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through WhatsApp messages to steal sensitive banking information. 

In a post on X, PIB's Fact Check unit flagged messages claiming that recipients' bank accounts had been linked to suspicious transactions and could be blocked unless they shared financial details. The messages reportedly include APK files and links that users are urged to download. 

"These messages are fake," PIB said, warning that cybercriminals are using such tactics to gain access to customers' banking and personal information. 

The agency advised users not to download unknown APK files or click on suspicious links. It also clarified that the RBI communicates via WhatsApp only through its two verified blue-tick numbers: 9930991935 and 9999041935. 

The warning comes at a time when banking fraud continues to pose a significant challenge. According to the RBI's Annual Report for 2025-26, banks and financial institutions reported 10,114 fraud cases involving ₹48,021 crore during the fiscal year, compared with 23,722 cases involving ₹32,803 crore in 2024-25. 

While the total number of fraud cases declined sharply, the amount involved increased substantially, highlighting the growing scale of individual fraud incidents. The RBI noted that an assessment of bank group-wise fraud cases over the past three years showed that although public and private sector banks recorded fewer fraud cases, the value involved has risen over time. 

Public sector banks accounted for the largest share of fraud by value, representing 74.5 per cent of the total amount involved. Fraud cases at these banks amounted to ₹35,709 crore during FY26. 

Fraud in the retail digital payments and card segment declined sharply in 2025-26, both in terms of the number of cases and the amount involved, according to RBI data. The sector recorded 293 fraud cases during the year, down from 13,332 cases in 2024-25. The total amount involved also fell significantly to ₹29 crore from ₹517 crore a year earlier.

The RBI noted that despite the rapid growth in digital transactions across the country, the loss rate remains extremely low, with only about ₹1.40 lost for every ₹1 lakh transacted digitally.

The latest alert underscores the increasing threat of digital fraud and the need for customers to verify communications, avoid sharing confidential financial information, and remain vigilant against phishing attempts.