Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Thane Collector Warns Citizens Against Fake Election Commission WhatsApp Messages
Some people are sending fake messages on WhatsApp pretending to be from the Election Commission.
The messages say there is a mistake in your voter card information.
They ask you to call a private phone number to fix the mistake.
But these messages are not real.
The Election Commission does not send messages like this.
The district collector of Thane told everyone to ignore these messages.
Only special officers called Booth Level Officers are allowed to check voter information.
If you have questions, you should contact your Booth Level Officer or the official election office.
Never share your personal documents or bank details with strangers.
If you get a suspicious message, you should report it.
Thane district administration issued a public advisory against fraudulent WhatsApp messages falsely claiming to come from the Election Commission.
Fraudsters claim voters' names and fathers' names do not match in records and direct recipients to contact private phone numbers.
District Collector Shrikrishna Panchal urged citizens to completely ignore such messages and not respond under any circumstances.
Officials said voter verification and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process are conducted only through authorized government channels.
Citizens were advised to contact only their Booth Level Officer or the authorized Election Registration Office and to report suspicious messages.
- Who
- Thane District Collector and District Election Officer Shrikrishna Panchal and the Thane district administration; fraudsters sending fake messages
- What
- A public advisory warning citizens against fraudulent WhatsApp messages that falsely claim to be from the Election Commission and seek voter details
- When
- Not explicitly stated; issued amid ongoing electoral verification activities
- Where
- Thane district, Maharashtra, India
- Why
- To prevent cyber fraud and protect voters from sharing sensitive personal information with unauthorized individuals
- Issuing Authority
- Thane District Administration
- District Collector
- Shrikrishna Panchal
- Threat
- Fake WhatsApp messages claiming voter record discrepancies
- Fraud Tactic
- Directing recipients to call private phone numbers
- Authorized Verification Channel
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
- Official Contact
- Authorized Election Registration Office
- Context
- Ongoing electoral verification and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process
- Citizen Advisory
- Ignore messages; do not share personal documents or banking details with unknown numbers