Have you heard about the Ayodhya Ram Mandir WhatsApp scam?

Produced by: BT Desk Designed by: Muskan Arora

If you get a VIP invite for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration on January 22, check twice. A deceptive WhatsApp scam has surfaced. People have been advised to not trust free VIP entry offers or free prasad offers. Read on

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1. Fake VIP Entry

[{"selector":"#anim-f3d88e0c-5e73-4ec5-af94-28fd28879f94 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(41.67864111076136%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Cybercriminals send misleading WhatsApp messages promising 'free VIP entry to the Ram Mandir inauguration on January 22.

2. Don't click

[{"selector":"#anim-6e8cc912-c229-4810-b574-f2885d632170 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.46677634225855%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Users who get messages are asked to click on a link or download an APK file labeled as 'Ram Janmabhoomi Grihsampark Abhiyan.APK.

3. Bogus

[{"selector":"#anim-47b78b1c-0a52-40de-b601-3086865e9fc8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-3.12499971556431%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The messages claim to be invitations from the Ram Janam Bhoomi Trust for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. These are bogus.

4. Chain of victims

[{"selector":"#anim-22e41c60-0a1a-4bd6-9c80-0b4238bb5494 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.15844715129519%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Users are encouraged to share the invitation, creating a chain of potential victims.

5. Malicious intent

[{"selector":"#anim-129259dd-1adf-47f6-b4ee-e0b020d2029f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b21aad2b-0e72-4b84-bd25-2aa4bd87a2a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(88.85497%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] These messages aim to compromise personal information, financial information and device security.

6. Strict entry

[{"selector":"#anim-5dbb4a1e-dd07-42eb-ae00-e654b03e2847 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(15.604272795982615%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Entry to the Ram Mandir on January 22 is strictly by valid invitation only.

7. No such app

[{"selector":"#anim-bbfcc2b2-1649-49a5-8147-22b3ce319a11 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.224365120445174%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Centre, state nor the Ram Madir Trust have launched any kind of app for the VIP invites so far

8. Stay alert

[{"selector":"#anim-c250cba2-8d3c-46a0-a0a8-ff4b27992793 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.05590842139789%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Users are advised to avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading files from such messages to prevent data theft.

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