Hyderabad Police Alert Citizens to Election-Themed OTP Fraud Scheme

Hyderabad authorities have alerted the public to an emerging fraud scheme targeting voters through deceptive phone calls. The scam, known as the SIR OTP scam, involves criminals posing as representatives from the Election Office, Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and other election bodies.

The fraudsters contact citizens claiming to verify their names in the 2002 electoral rolls as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. During these calls, the perpetrators request victims to provide one-time passwords (OTPs) that have been sent to their mobile phones.

Once obtained, these OTPs provide fraudsters with access to banking services, enabling them to transfer funds from victims' accounts without authorization. Police have emphasized that legitimate election officials will never request voters to disclose OTPs or any sensitive authentication codes.

The Hyderabad police department has urged citizens to immediately disconnect calls making such requests and refrain from sharing OTPs with anyone, irrespective of the caller's claimed identity or official position. Authorities have also warned the public against succumbing to intimidation tactics or pressure tactics employed by scammers.

Multiple cases of this SIR OTP scam have already surfaced across the region. Residents who receive suspicious calls of this nature are encouraged to lodge complaints with local law enforcement and maintain heightened awareness regarding cyber fraud attempts.