Callers posing as officials try to steal bank details, public told not to share codes
PANAJI
The Goa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has issued a strong warning to voters after cybercriminals were found pretending to be Election Commission staff and asking for OTPs while claiming to help with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). So far, over 74 per cent of enumeration forms have been collected by Block Level Officers (BLOs).
In an advisory, the CEO said the scam involves callers posing as BLOs, saying they need to “verify” SIR form details and demanding that voters share the OTP received on their phones. “These scamsters are attempting to steal money from voters’ bank accounts,” the CEO said.
The CEO stressed that the Election Commission never asks voters for OTPs and urged the public to stay alert. “Any demand for an OTP in the name of SIR is a clear fraud. Do not share it under any circumstance. Report such calls to the police right away.”
Officials clarified that giving a mobile number while submitting SIR forms is safe, and the risk arises only if an OTP is shared. The CEO repeated that awareness and caution are the best protection.
Meanwhile, the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Goa has seen active participation, with 74.40 per cent of enumeration forms collected so far. According to official data, a total of 8,81,657 forms, representing 74.40 per cent of Goa’s 11,85,034 registered electors, were collected as of 4 pm on Monday. The exercise began on October 27, after SIR instructions were issued.
The CEO also said that submitting enumeration forms for a deceased person, someone who is no longer an Indian citizen, or if a person knows their name appears more than once in the Electoral Roll, will be punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The draft electoral roll will be published on December 9 for corrections, if any.
As per the schedule, applicants can file claims and objections from December 9 to January 8, 2026, while the notice phase, including issuance, hearing and verification, will continue until January 31.
