Officials confirmed Tuesday that farmers in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand barely escaped becoming victims of a cyber scam masquerading as a government tractor subsidy program.
Unknown scammers reportedly used WhatsApp to reach out to several farmers, offering them alluring tractor subsidies and discounts as part of a purported “government scheme.” In order to receive the benefits, victims were required to provide personal documents such as their Aadhaar and PAN cards in addition to a nominal “processing fee.”
When doubtful farmers double-checked the offer with the local agriculture office, the scam was exposed. Authorities promptly verified that there was no such subsidy program in use and warned the populace by issuing an advisory throughout the villages. Although officials acknowledged that personal information shared with the scammers may have already been compromised, thankfully, no farmer reported financial loss.
“If farmers had transferred money, this could have destroyed livelihoods,” stated Agriculture Officer Abhishek Mishra. “These criminals target vulnerable communities that rely on subsidies for survival, taking advantage of trust.”
Since then, the Dhanbad government has established a toll-free cyber helpline (1800-123-1136) to assist farmers in reporting fraudulent activity and confirming schemes. The origin of the scam is also being looked into by cyber police, as preliminary evidence suggests a larger network that operates across state lines.
Experts warn that because digital adoption in farming communities has opened up new fraud opportunities, cybercriminals are increasingly turning their attention from urban professionals to rural populations. According to cybersecurity researcher Alok Verma, “rural trust becomes an easy target when it meets technology.”
In order to encourage farmers to confirm any claims for subsidies through official government portals, officials have announced planned awareness camps in various villages. The case serves as a reminder that cybercrime has spread throughout rural India and is no longer limited to urban areas.
