Kolkata: EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organisation) has asked all members to be careful and focused while using provident fund related services and beware
of fake links, messages or emails that may compromise their personal information. Recently EPFO has shared a post on X which says think before you click! EPFO said that all members should be careful online, avoid fake links, verify URLs and keep their personal information safe at all times.
Web link must be verified
EPFO’s warning comes at a time when digital adoption is on the rise and members are increasingly using online platforms to access various EPF services. Fraudsters can adopt many tricks, they can take sensitive information from users by creating fake websites and links that look like official platforms.
Members should check the web address and other details carefully before clicking on any link or entering any personal or account related details. Any link received from an unknown message, email or other unverified source should be used with caution, especially those links that ask for sensitive information or personal details, such as ATM PIN, OTP. Checking the authenticity of a website before proceeding can help members avoid falling prey to phishing attempts and other forms of online fraud.
The points raised by EPFO
The points that EPFO raised in order to keep the account and personal details safe are the following:
ONE: Enter the official EPFO website and no other links. They could be random links pretending to be official website of the EPFO or any link sent to you or by text or email.
TWO: You must not click any unverified web link which must be shared to you via SMS, social media or email.
THREE: You must not type in your original UAN, password, Aadhaar, PAN, bank details or OTP on any website other than the official EPFO website. Any such step can be used by fraudsters to do immense financial damage.
FOUR: The URL must be checked with great care. Before logging in the URL should be carefully varified. Wrong or different spelling of similar looking words or strange domain names should be treated with great suspicion.
FIVE: If you have any doubt, report it to EPFO’s official helpline desk without delay.
SIX: One very important point raised by EPFO is that it never asks any EPFO subscriber to reveal his/her OTP, personal information or login credentials through phone call, SMS, WhatsApp, social media or email or by any other means.
