#FactCheck: Fake Phishing link on Modi Government is giving ₹5,000 to all Indian citizens via UPI
Executive Summary:
A viral social media message claims that the Indian government is offering a ₹5,000 gift to citizens in celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. However, this claim is false. The message is part of a deceptive scam that tricks users into transferring money via UPI, rather than receiving any benefit. Fact-checkers have confirmed that this is a fraud using misleading graphics and fake links to lure people into authorizing payments to scammers.
Claim:
The post circulating widely on platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook states that every Indian citizen is eligible to receive ₹5,000 as a gift from the current Union Government on the Prime Minister’s birthday. The message post includes visuals of PM Modi, BJP party symbols, and UPI app interfaces such as PhonePe or Google Pay, and urges users to click on the BJP Election Symbol [Lotus] or on the provided link to receive the gift directly into their bank account.
Fact Check:
Our research indicates that there is no official announcement or credible article supporting the claim that the government is offering ₹5,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). This claim does not appear on any official government websites or verified scheme listings.
While the message was crafted to appear legitimate, it was in fact misleading. The intent was to deceive users into initiating a UPI payment rather than receiving one, thereby putting them at financial risk.
A screen popped up showing a request to pay ₹686 to an unfamiliar UPI ID. When the ‘Pay ₹686’ button was tapped, the app asked for the UPI PIN—clearly indicating that this would have authorised a payment straight from the user’s bank account to the scammer’s.
We advise the public to verify such claims through official sources before taking any action.
Our research indicated that the claim in the viral post is false and part of a fraudulent UPI money scam.
Clicking the link that went with the viral Facebook post, it took us to a website
https://wh1449479[.]ispot[.]cc/with a somewhat odd domain name of 'ispot.cc', which is certainly not a government-related or commonly known domain name. On the website, we observed images that featured a number of unauthorized visuals, including a Prime Minister Narendra Modi image, a Union Minister and BJP President J.P. Nadda image, the national symbol, the BJP symbol, and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana logo. It looked like they were using these visuals intentionally to convince users that the website was legitimate.
Conclusion:
The assertion that the Indian government is handing out ₹5,000 to all citizens is totally false and should be reported as a scam. The message uses the trust related to government schemes, tricking users into sending money through UPI to criminals. They recommend that individuals do not click on links or respond to any such message about obtaining a government gift prior to verification. If you or a friend has fallen victim to this fraud, they are urged to report it immediately to your bank, and report it through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) or contact the cyber helpline at 1930. They also recommend always checking messages like this through their official government website first.
- Claim: The Modi Government is distributing ₹5,000 to citizens through UPI apps
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
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Executive Summary:
Social media has been overwhelmed by a viral post that claims Indian Railways is beginning to install solar panels directly on railway tracks all over the country for renewable energy purposes. The claim also purports that India will become the world's first country to undertake such a green effort in railway systems. Our research involved extensive reverse image searching, keyword analysis, government website searches, and global media verification. We found the claim to be completely false. The viral photos and information are all incorrectly credited to India. The images are actually from a pilot project by a Swiss start-up called Sun-Ways.
Claim:
According to a viral post on social media, Indian Railways has started an all-India initiative to install solar panels directly on railway tracks to generate renewable energy, limit power expenses, and make global history in environmentally sustainable rail operations.
Fact check:
We did a reverse image search of the viral image and were soon directed to international media and technology blogs referencing a project named Sun-Ways, based in Switzerland. The images circulated on Indian social media were the exact ones from the Sun-Ways pilot project, whereby a removable system of solar panels is being installed between railway tracks in Switzerland to evaluate the possibility of generating energy from rail infrastructure.
We also thoroughly searched all the official Indian Railways websites, the Ministry of Railways news article, and credible Indian media. At no point did we locate anything mentioning Indian Railways engaging or planning something similar by installing solar panels on railway tracks themselves.
Indian Railways has been engaged in green energy initiatives beyond just solar panel installation on program rooftops, and also on railway land alongside tracks and on train coach roofs. However, Indian Railways have never installed solar panels on railway tracks in India. Meanwhile, we found a report of solar panel installations on the train launched on 14th July 2025, first solar-powered DEMU (diesel electrical multiple unit) train from the Safdarjung railway station in Delhi. The train will run from Sarai Rohilla in Delhi to Farukh Nagar in Haryana. A total of 16 solar panels, each producing 300 Wp, are fitted in six coaches.
We also found multiple links to support our claim from various media links: Euro News, World Economy Forum, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, and NDTV.
Conclusion:
After extensive research conducted through several phases including examining facts and some technical facts, we can conclude that the claim that Indian Railways has installed solar panels on railway tracks is false. The concept and images originate from Sun-Ways, a Swiss company that was testing this concept in Switzerland, not India.
Indian Railways continues to use renewable energy in a number of forms but has not put any solar panels on railway tracks. We want to highlight how important it is to fact-check viral content and other unverified content.
- Claim: India’s solar track project will help Indian Railways run entirely on renewable energy.
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
A photograph showing a massive crowd on a road is being widely shared on social media. The image is being circulated with the claim that people in the United States are staging large-scale protests against President Donald Trump.
However, CyberPeace Foundation’s research has found this claim to be misleading. Our fact-check reveals that the viral photograph is nearly eight years old and has been falsely linked to recent political developments.
Claim:
Social media users are sharing a photograph and claiming that it shows people protesting against US President Donald Trump.An X (formerly Twitter) user, Salman Khan Gauri (@khansalman88177), shared the image with the caption:“Today, a massive protest is taking place in America against Donald Trump.”
The post can be viewed here, and its archived version is available here.
FactCheck:
To verify the claim, we conducted a reverse image search of the viral photograph using Google. This led us to a report published by The Mercury News on April 6, 2018.
The report features the same image and states that the photograph was taken on March 24, 2018, during the ‘March for Our Lives’ rally in Washington, DC. The rally was organized to demand stricter gun control laws in the United States. The image shows a large crowd gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue in support of gun reform.
The report further notes that the Associated Press, on March 30, 2018, debunked false claims circulating online which alleged that liberal billionaire George Soros and his organizations had paid protesters $300 each to participate in the rally.
Further research led us to a report published by The Hindu on March 25, 2018, which also carries the same photograph. According to the report, thousands of Americans across the country participated in ‘March for Our Lives’ rallies following a mass shooting at a school in Florida. The protests were led by survivors and victims, demanding stronger gun laws.
The objective of these demonstrations was to break the legislative deadlock that has long hindered efforts to tighten firearm regulations in a country frequently rocked by mass shootings in schools and colleges.
Conclusion
The viral photograph is nearly eight years old and is unrelated to any recent protests against President Donald Trump.The image actually depicts a gun control protest held in 2018 and is being falsely shared with a misleading political claim.By circulating this outdated image with an incorrect context, social media users are spreading misinformation.
