Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police on Tuesday warned people about a new pattern of cyber fraud in which criminals are impersonating census officials to steal OTPs and bank-related information from unsuspecting citizens.
Police said cyber criminals are visiting homes while posing as official census enumerators and using fake identity cards and uniforms to gain public trust. They allegedly attempt to extract sensitive personal details such as Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers, and bank details.
The scammers often try to trick residents into sharing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) received on their mobile phones, falsely claiming that the verification is part of the census process.
Police informed that such OTPs are used by fraudsters for unauthorised financial transactions or SIM swap fraud.
Issuing the alert in a post on X, the state police said that government officials never ask for OTP or bank details. Citizens were advised to remain alert and not to click on suspicious ‘Census App’ links or APK files. If defrauded, they should call 1930 immediately.
🚨 SCAM ALERT: Census 2026 Fraud 🚨
Cybercriminals are posing as Census Officers to steal your money!❌ Government officials will NEVER ask for your OTP or Bank Details.
❌ Do not click on suspicious “Census App” links or APK files.
Stay Alert! If defrauded, call 1930… pic.twitter.com/cG1bnuywSx— Odisha Police (@odisha_police) May 12, 2026
