With discussions around the 8th Pay Commission gaining momentum, cybercriminals are exploiting the excitement.
Central government employees and pensioners are being targeted by a new scam promising updated salary calculations.
The alert comes from Cyber Dost, the cyber awareness wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which has warned citizens to stay cautious.
How the Scam Works
The fraud, called the “Salary Calculator” scam, lures victims through WhatsApp messages claiming they can check their revised pay under the proposed 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).
The message often contains an attachment—usually an APK file named “8th CPC Salary Calculator” or “Salary Revision Tool”—designed to look authentic.
Once installed, the malicious app gives cybercriminals remote access to the victim’s phone. They can:
Steal personal and banking details
Read SMS messages and OTPs
Carry out unauthorized financial transactions
Victims may not even realize their data is being stolen until it’s too late.
Real Consequences for Victims
Several cases have been reported where people lost their life savings after installing the fake app.
Cyber agencies stress that the Government of India never sends APK files through WhatsApp or messaging apps.
Downloading apps from unknown sources bypasses built-in security protections, exposing devices to malware that can quietly run in the background.
Cyber experts note that scams often spike during major government announcements, financial reforms, or policy changes.
With the 8th Pay Commission creating buzz, scammers are exploiting people’s trust and sense of urgency.
Authorities urge government employees and pensioners to stay alert and avoid downloading unknown apps. Investigations into this scam are ongoing.
