Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police on Tuesday issued a warning to citizens over a rising cyber fraud pattern in which criminals are impersonating census officials to steal OTPs and bank-related information from unsuspecting households.
According to the police, fraudsters are visiting homes while posing as official census enumerators and using fake identity cards and uniforms to gain public trust. Once inside or at the doorstep, 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. However, police clarified that such OTPs are typically used for unauthorised financial transactions or SIM swap fraud.
🚨 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
The Odisha Police emphasised that no government official or census enumerator is authorised to ask for OTPs, bank account details, or access to mobile phones during data collection.
Citizens have been urged to remain cautious and not share any confidential information with unknown visitors.
The police also warned against clicking on suspicious links or downloading unverified applications claiming to be related to the census exercise. Such links or APK files may be used to install malicious software designed to steal personal data.
The police further stated that genuine census enumerators are trained to collect only basic household information, including the number of family members, age, gender, housing conditions, amenities (water, toilet, electricity), and assets. They do not request financial information or mobile verification codes.
As the house-listing exercise is currently underway from April 16, 2026 and is set to continue until May 15, police said trained enumerators and supervisors are conducting door-to-door surveys across all 30 districts of Odisha.
The state police have urged citizens to stay alert and immediately report any suspicious activity or suspected fraud to the cybercrime helpline number 1930. They also reiterated that public awareness and caution are key to preventing such impersonation-based cyber frauds.
