Caller says they are a Census 2026 official and needs your Aadhaar, bank OTP, or a ₹49 fee
Fraudsters pose as India's 2026 Census enumerators by phone, WhatsApp, or door-to-door visit. They ask for Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details, OTPs, or a small ₹49 'verification fee.' Real enumerators ask none of these things.
Also known as: census 2026 scam, fake census enumerator fraud, census verification fee scam, 2026 census OTP fraud
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
Call 1930 now- 1 Call 1930 — the national cyber-crime helpline — right now. The sooner you report, the better the chance of freezing the money before it moves.
- 2 Call your bank to freeze the account and block the card immediately. Use the number printed on your card, never a number from the message or caller.
- 3 File a report at cybercrime.gov.in and keep every message, screenshot, and transaction ID.
- ! If you installed any "support", "server", "refund", or remote-access app at their request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.): disconnect the internet now, then run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
What to do right now
- 1 Do not share bank details, OTP, UPI ID, Aadhaar, or PAN with anyone calling themselves a census official over the phone or WhatsApp
- 2 Do not pay any fee — the census is free; no ₹49 or any other amount is required for verification or registration
- 3 If a visitor claims to be an enumerator, ask for their official ID card with the 11-digit enumerator number before providing any information
- 4 Self-enumeration is at the official government census portal only — do not use a link sent by WhatsApp or SMS
- 5 If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
- 6 Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).
Was remote-access software installed?
If a scammer asked you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, or any remote-access app, your device may still be compromised.
Run SeraphSecure to detect and remove it →Red flags
- ⚠ Real census officials carry an official ID with an 11-digit identification number — ask to see it before sharing any information
- ⚠ The 2026 Digital Census process requires no fee of any kind — there is no ₹49 or any other 'verification fee'
- ⚠ Official enumerators never ask for bank account numbers, UPI IDs, ATM PIN, OTPs, or credit/debit card details
- ⚠ Aadhaar and PAN photocopies are not required for census participation
- ⚠ Genuine self-enumeration is done only on the official government portal — never via a WhatsApp link or a third-party app
Sources
- Outlook Money — Census 2026 Fraud Alert: How To Spot Fake Verification Scams
- Dailyhunt / Hans India — Fake Census Scams on the Rise as Enumeration Begins
- Daily Pioneer — Fake Census Forms in Delhi; Officials Warn Against Sharing Data
- India Observers — Census Scam Warning: Spot Fake Agents & Protect Your Data
- NyayNeeti — Census Scam 2026: How Scammers Empty Your Bank Account
- CyberCrime.gov.in