THIS WhatsApp forward claiming to register for COVID-19 vaccine is fake - Check all details here

ALERT! The most popular instant messaging platform WhatsApp has now become a hotspot for online scams. Hackers and scammers are using this Facebook-owned messaging app and other apps to trick people by asking for OTPs and other personal details.

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These scams range from malware attacks to phishing scams to money scams and several others. Meanwhile, the most recent scam that is making headlines is a WhatsApp forward that claims that COVID-19 vaccination appointments can be booked through WhatsApp, the Zee Media Bureau reported.

The WhatsApp forward claims that “Corona Vaccine appointment can be made via WhatsApp.” 

“It’s simple and easy to use like chatting,” the forward said. It further asks users to send a “Hi” message to a number (9745697456) and follow the steps that it is told and it also asks users to submit their Aadhaar details and give a pin code for which they want to search a hospital. The number of people falling prey to this scam has not surfaced but it looks like an easy trap for everybody,  the report said.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has warned people about this fake WhatsApp forward and it has put out an advisory that the registrations for COVID-19 vaccination are only done through the Co-WIN portal and Aarogya Setu app and not by any other methods.

"An image claiming that COVID-19 #Vaccination appointment can be booked through #WhatsApp is circulating on social media. #PIBFactCheck: This claim is #Fake. Registration for #COVID19 vaccination can be done only through the COWIN portal and Arogya Setu app," PIB tweeted from its account.

The Central government has clarified that the claims are false and registrations can only be done through the CoWIN portal or Arogya Setu app.