ANJALI YADAV/ Dehradun
With the Census -2027 kicking off, residents of Dehradun have been cautioned about possible fraud attempts in the name of ‘census surveys’. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) and Uttarakhand Police have asked people to stay alert against fake calls, messages and people posing as officials.
The advisory comes amid viral WhatsApp forwards and social media posts claiming that fraudsters are visiting homes as census staff to collect personal details or carry out thefts. The officials said that some of these claims are misleading, but added that such tactics are commonly used by scammers.
The additional municipal commissioner, Praveen Kumar stated that genuine census officials do not ask for sensitive information. “No one will ask for bank details, OTPs, passwords or card numbers during census work. People should check ID cards before sharing any information,” he said.
He also clarified that the census does not require people to submit Aadhaar or PAN photocopies. “There is no fee or payment involved in any part of the process,” an official said.
Special Task Force senior superintendent of police, Ajai Singh said that fraudsters may try different methods, including fake home visits, suspicious links and messages or websites that look like official ones. In some cases, people may be asked to click on a link or download an app. “Avoid clicking on unknown links or installing anything from unverified sources,” Singh said.
He added that real census staff follow proper procedure and carry valid identity cards. They only ask basic household details and do not ask financial questions.
The officials have asked residents to be especially careful and also inform elderly family members, who are often targeted in such scams. People have been advised not to trust unknown callers or visitors claiming to be from the census without proper verification.
Authorities further said that awareness drives are being carried out. Residents have been urged to report any suspicious calls, messages or visits to the police or cyber helpline.
