Islamabad, Nov 10: Beware of Fake CM Punjab Solar Panel Scheme Website Targeting Innocent Citizens
This scam website, which bills itself as the Punjab state government’s “Free Solar Panel Scheme” has recently started entering the popular social media platforms like twitter, WhatsApp, X, and Facebook.
This website requires some information from users, which include full name, ID no, and average monthly electricity consumption.
It also offered free solar equipment to consumers who consume between 100 and 500 electricity units per month, with registration closing on November 10.
Scholars have reported this particular website, “solar-panel-scheme-2024.blogspot.com” as fake and with the primary intention of taking advantage of the populace with the guise of offering them free solar panels.
In reality, the legitimate government initiative is the “Roshan Gharana Program,” introduced by the Punjab government in March.
CM Punjab Solar Panel Scheme
This program aims to distribute 50,000 solar systems to low-income households, but it has not yet opened for registration.
Any websites that advertise free solar panels are not associated with the government, according to Adnan Mudassar, the project director for the initiative.
Information will be disseminated through official media channels upon the program’s introduction, guaranteeing public awareness and safeguarding against fraud.
The “Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme” or other misleading websites promoting free solar panels lack any government endorsement.
Geo Fact Check, in a report, confirmed with cybersecurity experts and officials that these fake websites serve as clickbait schemes.
They typically redirect users to other ad-based sites and collect identity details that could later be sold on the dark web.
The Islamabad-based analyst, Anees Qureshi, highlighted that similar scams have circulated during previous schemes, targeting those seeking support.
With energy costs on the rise, individuals across Punjab and Pakistan are particularly vulnerable to these schemes.
In recent months, multiple online portals have proliferated, using similar fraudulent tactics.
These websites feature misleading images of political figures and enticing captions, such as “Free Solar for Users with 200 Units.”
The government has reiterated that these portals, including “solar-panel-scheme-2024” and other variations, are fraudulent.
People are warned not to give any of their details on suspicious websites.
These sites are also mosquitos attracting people under the pretext of government programs
And schemes to provide and extract their personal information thus they pose high risk to Unite’s privacy.
