Fake government SMS — one link, account empty

Government welfare and subsidy programs distribute large sums of money to families who need them. Scammers know this. They know people are waiting for those payments. So they send SMS messages designed to look exactly like the real program.

A typical scam SMS reads:

"Congratulations! You are eligible for a government cash payment. Click here to register: example-relief.xyz/register"

Tap the link, and a website opens that looks almost identical to the real program. It asks for your national ID, phone number, bank account, and an OTP. The moment you enter those details, the account is drained.

How real government programs work

A government welfare program never sends a link by SMS.

In general, to check your status with a real program:

1. Go to the program's website directly — typed into your browser, not tapped from an SMS.
2. Or visit a designated payment center in person.
3. Eligibility checks should never require an OTP, a one-time code, or your full bank credentials.

Anything outside that pattern is suspicious.

Three rules for spotting an SMS scam

1. A government SMS does not contain a link. If there's a link, it's a scam.
2. A government SMS does not ask for an OTP. If it does, it's a scam.
3. A government SMS comes from a short code — a 4- or 5-digit number — not a random long mobile number.

Teach the elders in your home

This scam targets the elderly and the poor most often — the people who genuinely qualify for help and are waiting for payment.

Make it a rule at home:

"Any SMS with a link, show it to a son or daughter first. Don't tap it yourself."