Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jul 13: In a concerning case of cyber fraud, scammers have allegedly exploited government welfare data to target pregnant women and new mothers enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) in Mangaluru. Using data from the government’s ‘Poshan Tracker’ app, the fraudsters reportedly impersonated officials and duped beneficiaries—some of whom lost up to Rs 44,000 from their bank accounts.

The scam came to light after several Anganwadi workers and beneficiaries reported a surge in fraudulent calls and lodged complaints with local authorities.

Modus operandi

According to Ashalata, president of the Mangaluru Anganwadi Workers’ Association, the fraudsters call beneficiaries from unknown numbers, fluently speak in Hindi, and pose as officials from the Women and Child Development Department. They claim that an enhanced payment—ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000—is being released under the Matru Vandana scheme and ask victims to pay a nominal ‘processing fee’ to receive the amount.

What’s alarming is that the callers seem to possess detailed personal data of the women, including their names, pregnancy status, and even the names of their Anganwadi workers—strongly suggesting that data uploaded to the Poshan Tracker app may have been compromised.

About the scheme

The PM Matru Vandana Yojana provides financial support to promote safe deliveries and maternal health.

• Rs 5,000 is disbursed in two instalments for the first child.

• If the second child is a girl, a one-time payment of Rs 6,000 is provided post-delivery.

• All beneficiary data is maintained digitally through the Poshan Tracker app used at Anganwadi centres.

Victims speak out

At least eight beneficiaries have reported falling prey to the scam. One woman shared that after receiving a call, she was sent a payment link and asked to pay a small fee. After she complied, Rs 44,000 was drained from her account.

Scammers have also misled women by claiming they need to maintain a minimum bank balance to receive government benefits—another ploy to access account details. In some instances, victims were even told to pay a small amount to their Anganwadi workers, leading to confusion and suspicion. However, Anganwadi staff have denied any involvement.

Awareness and action

“We’ve started warning all beneficiaries not to entertain unknown callers and to report any suspicious activity immediately,” said Ashalata. “This is a deeply troubling scam. We have brought it to the attention of the police and the Women and Child Development Department for urgent action.”

As digital platforms become increasingly central to welfare delivery, the incident has raised serious concerns about data security and misuse of official applications. Authorities are expected to launch a formal investigation into the breach and take strict legal action against those responsible.