Mumbai, October 15: The Navratri festival - the nine-day-long Hindu festival began today, October 15, with much fervour and gaiety across the country. People across the country were seen thronging to temples to offer prayers on the first day of Navratri 2023. The festive season of Navratri calls for celebrations as people also extend greetings and gifts to one another. As the nation celebrates the first day of Navratri today, a message by India Post offering "Navratri gifts" is going viral on social media.

Several people received the India Post link on WhatsApp, which claims to offer "Navratri gifts" to users who click on the link and participate in the India Post survey. On clicking the link, one has to answer a few basic questions such as gender, age, etc. Following this, the link opens to show that a user has won a gift from India Post and gives the option of selecting three boxes out of nine boxes displayed on the screen. India Post National Offering Chance To Win Government Subsidy Worth Rs 6,000 Through Lucky Draw? PIB Fact Check Reveals Truth About Viral Scam.

On opening the boxes, users return empty-handed or win iPhones, among other prices. Once a user wins a gift, the link asks to follow the rules of the games in order to claim the gift. This is when one realises that the link is fake and no such "gift" is being offered by India Post as the rules ask users to share the gift link with several users on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

As per a fact check run by us, the India Post's offer of offering "Navratri gifts" is fake. We even checked India Post's official website and their account on X, formerly Twitter; however, there were no links or details of any ongoing scheme as such. Hence, it must be noted that the link is a scam, and India Post is not running any such scheme of offering gifts to users on the Navratri festival. India Post Payments Bank Accounts of Customers To Be Blocked Within 24 Hours if PAN Card Not Updated? PIB Fact Check Reveals Truth.

We request people to not click on the fake and "unsafe" India Post "Navratri Gifts" link and fall for the scam.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2023 02:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).