Ayodhya Ram Mandir WhatsApp Scam: Devotees Beware of Cybercriminals Offering Free VIP Entry and Prasad

As the date for the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya approaches, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the situation by scamming unsuspecting devotees. Promising free VIP entry and free prasad from the ceremony, these scammers are luring devotees into downloading a malicious app that can empty their bank accounts.

Deceptive WhatsApp messages are being sent out, offering free VIP entry to the ceremony on January 22. Recipients are instructed to download an APK file, which is suspected to install spyware or malware on the device upon installation. Experts speculate that through this spyware, hackers may gain access to sensitive user data and pave the way for potential financial fraud.

It is important to note that neither the government nor the Ram Mandir Trust is issuing VIP entry invites, in exchange for downloading an app. Downloading fraudulent apps poses a significant risk of financial loss and data theft.

Moreover, reports from users on various platforms indicate the emergence of websites claiming to offer free prasad from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. These sites assert that devotees only need to cover shipping charges. While the authenticity of these websites remains unconfirmed, devotees are advised to exercise caution online and interact only with trusted websites or services.

In response to the heightened excitement among devotees and the increased activity of cybercriminals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people not to visit the Ram Mandir on January 22. Instead, he has recommended that devotees light a diya at their homes, emphasizing the importance of staying safe and vigilant during this significant event.

Saraswati Devi, an 85-year-old woman from Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, has been observing a self-imposed vow of silence since the day the Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya in 1992. She vowed to break her ‘maun vrat’ the day a Ram temple was built in the temple town.

The idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ has already been carved by Arun Yogiraj, a famed sculptor from Karnataka. The idol, which is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes, will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum on January 18.