PIB urges public not to fall for fake WhatsApp forwards claiming 2–3-day ATM closures; says services will remain fully operational.
May 9, 2025: As panic-inducing fake news circulates on social media, the Government of India has stepped in to quash a viral WhatsApp message falsely claiming that ATMs will be shut down for 2–3 days amid heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a clear statement: “ATMs will continue to operate as usual. The message being circulated is fake. Citizens are advised not to share unverified claims.”
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The misleading message has been spreading rapidly, raising concerns about unnecessary panic withdrawals and public anxiety. Officials warn that such rumours could lead to long queues at banks, unnecessary hoarding of cash, and disruption of essential financial services. The government has strongly encouraged citizens to verify information with official sources or their banks before forwarding such messages.
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The clarification comes in the backdrop of Pakistan’s intensified information warfare, as the neighbouring country faces diplomatic and military setbacks following the Indian armed forces’ Operation Sindoor — a series of precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
PIB also debunked several other fake news items being circulated by Pakistan-based social media handles and unwitting Indian users. These include:
- A video falsely claiming a drone strike in Punjab’s Jalandhar — which was actually a local farm fire recorded before any air activity.
- A claim about an Indian Army post held by a fictional “20 Raj Battalion” being destroyed — the Army confirmed no such unit exists.
- An old video of the 2020 Beirut blast being misrepresented as a Pakistani missile strike.
- A fabricated suicide attack in Rajouri that never occurred.
The Indian government continues to urge social media users to exercise caution, especially during tense geopolitical scenarios, and to refrain from spreading misinformation that may disrupt civil order or public trust.
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ATM closure rumour, PIB fact check, India Pakistan tensions, fake WhatsApp news, Operation Sindoor, ATM shutdown hoax, misinformation, digital safety, PIB clarification, ATM open India, OperationSindoor,