Pension platform alerts ex-defence personnel over fake WhatsApp message

The System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) has cautioned armed forces pensioners about a fraudulent WhatsApp message designed to steal personal and financial information. The warning comes after fake messages claimed that pension-related issues could be resolved via WhatsApp, urging recipients to share sensitive details like bank account and pension information.
In a statement on Friday, SPARSH clarified that it does not use WhatsApp for any services and has no authorised WhatsApp numbers for handling queries.
“These messages are fraudulent and can lead to financial theft,” SPARSH said, advising pensioners to avoid sharing personal documents, such as pension books or bank records, with unknown sources.
SPARSH is a centralised system for processing and disbursing pensions to former defence personnel, offering a secure platform for claims, payments, and grievance redressal. The agency emphasised that its services are only available through its official portal or authorised service centres.
Pensioners are urged to report any suspicious messages to SPARSH’s official contact channels and to remain vigilant against scams.