Pay Rs 2,550 and get Rs 5 lakh? That viral Mudra loan letter is fake and cost you life savings

PIB Fact Check, the government agency that spreads awareness about scams, has recently warned people about a new fraud involving fake Mudra loan approval letters. According to a Twitter post by the agency, scammers are targeting individuals by promising quick loans of Rs 5 lakh and asking for a small upfront processing fee. This has been clearly stated by the authorities that Mudra is a refinance institution and does not provide loans directly to customers nor ask them for any advance amount. In addition, such frauds usually make use of logos of banks and also create urgency in order to convince people to provide their banking information or money which cannot be traced back. Always verify any financial offer through official government websites or established banks before taking any action.

The government’s fact-checking body, PIB Fact Check, has issued a warning about the new fraud to users. In a recent update, the agency clearly stated that such loan approval letters are not genuine. They also explained that Mudra does not directly give loans to individuals. Instead, it works as a refinancing agency for banks and financial institutions. Any message or letter claiming direct loan approval and asking for money should be treated as suspicious. Officials have also advised people not to share personal or financial details in response to such claims.

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The fake Mudra loan letter usually promises a loan of Rs 5 lakh and asks the recipient to pay a small processing fee of Rs 2,550. In case of responding, you may be required to transfer the funds via unauthorised payment mechanisms. The perpetrators will tell you that the moment the funds are transferred, they will be transferred to your account quickly. But what happens is that the payment mechanism is used to transfer the funds, and it is impossible to get the funds back. Users might have to reveal their banking credentials to the fraudsters at times.

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How to identify fake Mudra loan approval messages

Follow these signs to spot a fake. Mudra loan message:

• It asks for a processing fee before releasing the loan.
• The letter looks official but comes from unknown or suspicious sources.
• It uses urgent language to push you into quick action.
• Contact details and payment methods appear unofficial.
• It assures you of approval without any proper verification process.

How do you protect yourself from scams like this?

These are some of the steps that can help keep you safe:

• Never pay an advance fee in order to get your loan approved.
• Always verify the legitimacy of the scheme through the government’s website.
• Don’t provide any personal, banking, or OTP numbers to unknown parties.
• Always cross-check the loan schemes with reliable banks or financial organisations.