The West Bengal Police issued a warning about fraudulent government loan advertisements circulating on social media misusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s name and photos. These fake ads offer ‘Instant loans’, ‘Loans without CIBIL score’, ‘Government-approved financial schemes’, and ‘Guaranteed loans with no verification’, aiming to deceive people into losing money. The police emphasized that neither the Chief Minister nor the state government has announced or endorsed any such loan schemes.
The police highlighted that these advertisements are entirely false and unauthorized, cautioning the public against falling for them. Fraudsters commonly distribute these misleading ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, leading users to fake websites or apps where they request personal information, Aadhaar, PAN, OTPs, and bank details. They also warn against sharing OTPs, bank details, or identity documents and recommend verifying loan offers only through authorized banks, NBFCs, or official government websites.
In response to this scam, the West Bengal Police urged people to be vigilant and not trust loan offers that claim ‘No CIBIL’, ‘Instant approval’, or ‘Government backed’ on social media. They advised against clicking on suspicious links, installing unknown loan apps, and sharing sensitive information. Additionally, the police stated that severe legal actions would be taken against individuals misusing the Chief Minister’s name or image for such fraudulent advertisements.
