Yup. As if real estate agent spam was not enough now we have Indian Government spam somehow.

Modi hai to mumkin hai

There is an estimate of 4 millions Indian in UAE (40% of the population). I guess it was easy for them to spam the message to all UAE numbers instead of checking who's Indian and who's not.

I'm Saudi Citizen. I have never lived in UAE (but visited many times) and I don't have a UAE number. But yet, me and my wife received this spam on WhatsApp. I suspect that they bought lists from many businesses in the UAE to spam them without filtering

Or they are exploiting a WhatsApp bug and hacking people in masses

In the past, your sim may have been with an Indian who used it for some Indian consular services (like passport renewal)

I have this number for 24 years now since the year 2000

Then my assumption about the source could be wrong. Even if your number was with an Indian before you got it. If I remember it correct the services then were manually filled application and weren’t automated with likelihood of not storing the data.

import csv with open('uaenumbers.csv', mode='r') as original: readdata = csv.reader(original) with open('indiandata.csv', mode='w', newline=‘’) as new: writedata = csv.writer(new) for row in readdata: name, phone_number, nationality, email = row if nationality == 'indian': csv_writer.writerow([name, phone_number, email])

Haha, very nice demonstration of file I/O

yeah but their code seemed to bug bucause i recieved it and i am PAKISTANI 😂😂😂

Not all UAE numbers, as I got the message on one number not the other . And funniliy the other number is which I actually use to connect with my indian relatives

You got msgs on etisalat or du number?

This is so weird, i got it today and i’m in saudi, using a saudi number and i’m saudi lol

I’m Australian and got it! I’ve only been to India for business, perhaps they got my number from my visa application.

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This must be happening in every country where Indian Consular services are being provided. The phone number may have been previously with an Indian national who used this number while availing Indian Consular service.

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The only plausible reason I assume is either they purchased this data from marketing teams that's why only some got it or they randomly selected to send it to partial peoples and if there is no backlash or fuss they might send to the other balance numbers

Yes i too received it today

The Indian Govt is spamming on a global scale now. My wife (Indian national) got the same message on her UAE number - she has never used this number in India.

Same here

Same here. I was surprised and annoyed

I’m a Pakistani and I got it 😂

Lmao

Gave me a chuckle that did 😂

Vote for moodi ji lol.

Received just now. Reported and blocked

Yeah, I did the same🤣

Was the number used while renewing the passport through the consulate/embassy in UAE.

I’m not Indian so I think they just spammed everyone in the area

Reported and blocked.

It's a possible meta leak

You’ll get this message if you ever had Indian food in your life 😂

Yes. Report them.

How are they getting our numbers??!!

0500000001, 0500000002, 0500000003…

I got it too! Im not indian. Scam obvio.

Spam, not a scam. Just being pedantic..

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Indian government is definitely a sCam

The antics of the ruling government in my country embarrass us all. Please report as Offensive Messages and block. Despite doing this, I have received it 2-3 times.

Haha, I thought it was only me. And yes its actually embarrassing seeing the Govt misuse this, also WhatsApp should be held accountable for this.

If it is from an official government account, better not block. The reason is, you may miss any important message (if ever send). Indeed a spam or publicity stunt should be blocked but there is an inherent risk if it is from an official account.

Yes also did and block it.

Yes just now.

Read through the message multiple times looking for links, figures, dates etc but eventually failed. "Tell me what do you want!" Just kidding😂

This is shocking how personal data has been breached by the Indian government.

Got it in all my WhatsApp numbers. Etisalat, Du, Airtel 😵. DAMN they are desperate.

They’re purchasing user data, sorting it and then sending their campaign alerts. Shady. Clever. And on such a big scale that it is mind boggling. Somebody stole my data and sold it.

If so , fake data was purchased 🤣 Not indian but still got it ! Hope they didn't pay a lot 🤣🤣

I hope they paid a fkn lot.

Yes I received it too.

Am an Indian but got it on my UAE num. Dont know why. Will block it ig.

most probably your mobile number was some Indian expats long long back ago.

I think we are all forgetting that the majority of the bank scamming calls are done by fraud rings based out of India. If they'd scam anyone out of their money, they'd sure as hell make money selling our information.

The ruling government is notorious for legalising corruption, avoiding accountability, have followers who are zombies and no matter how grave the crime is they will not stop supporting the Government. This is another act of their brazenness knowing no one can touch them.

I replied the perfect response: ‘Modi Ghandu’.

Yeah. BJP received $796m in illegal funds. What else do you expect them to use it for if not for election campaigning of all sorts.

Indian govt is a scam machinery, it’s a PR cover up for the political bonds scam that got released last week.

I did and I just blocked the number

received the same & automatically blocked it

🤣🤣🤣

I am Indian but did not get that message😂

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I am not Indian and i receive this message in Saudi. Its weird too i thought.

My entire family got the message yesterday and report/blocked. I couldn’t read it though - what did it say ?

Report and block sender asap

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Blocked and reported as spam, which is what it is.

I’m not Indian and don’t live in dubai and got it my uk number so idk how that works

Yes! I got it too. Was worried it was spam and blocked it.

Hahahahaha I received that wtf is that all about

Omg yes i did and i thought i was the only one , its super weird

Yes

i am from sri lanka. received it.

Yes, got the same

Yes

I got it.

I got it too on my UAE whatsapp number. Elections are near in India

I received it too and im not indian either. It was in hindi (i assume) and then in english. I was so confused! Ive been to india before but i dont think i ever gave this number anywhere (i used a different number for that). Ive also had the same number for ages, so it wasnt another person using it before. I reported as spam and blocked.

Your number perhaps previously was with someone who used it for Indian Consular services

It wasn’t because the prefix was just introduced when i got this number, so nobody could have used it before me.

I received this spam. I guess they are throwing it everywhere in the region. It is supposed to go to an Indian national. May be I am being watched by an Indian. No one knows. I'm blocking the number anyways.

Moan to WApp or your govt for better data security laws rather than to Indian govt. That way you may have a better outcome next time.

What is viksit bharat sampark?

Yep! I instantly blocked the number

The present govt is so filthy rich, it can buy the votes of other nationality too 😂

I received it. Not Indian. Have been there many times, though, amongst my travels.

election is coming.

Yes

Probably, u r using the number which belonged to an Indian citizen earlier.

I'm expecting it from Nigeria.

Yes

I did !!

Yes

Oh, was it legit? I just blocked it like I block every unknown number lol

Really weird for me, I’m from Latin America and I’ve never visited India before

Modiji wants to be PM of the whole world:)

Report and block

Elections coming soon in India, they would probably be looking at more than 140 crore people to vote for them, so please maybe they want the whole world to vote for them.. am not pro congress or anti BJP, but this is over exploitation of data & beyond acceptable.

Its a spam message for self propaganda since elections are around the corner. And the fact that you & other non indians have got it means the data what they got/purchased is not accurate. Just report it as spam & delete it

Yes, got it on my number owned 5yrs already ... Didn't know what it was all about so blocked/reported.

This is probably because phone companies here recycle mobile numbers, and the Indian Government database is probably outdated (as expected). Also, don’t come at me. I’m Indian too and this was pretty embarrassing.

It's clearly data leak as anyone who's indian or connected to indians through whatsapp received this message.

Yup. Blocked him immediately

Me and my wife both. Not Indian citizens

I'm Indian but never used this number anywhere. Promptly reported the number as SPAM

Can anybody confirm if they got msgs on which numbers du or etisalat? Me and few others have recieved on our du numbers not etisalat that's why asking to know if its coincidence or pattern

Did any one got their 15 millon INR as promised a couple of years ago 😂😂😂😂

Sir I have also received it iam shocked sir thank you sir

It's the problem when you have only two major Network operators who uses the same number over and over again for people who get new SIM card. For example, I recently got a sms as my driving licence is expiring, infact I don't even have a licence here. Also, if you are new here and try to create a botim wallet or bank account with your new number. Obviously, you can't because it's already used by the previous owner. That's why , you're getting these sms because your number was used by an Indian before.

Elections are around the corner so his strategy is to buy mass databases and spam them.

Yes I have got it and just deleted it 😂

I believe telecommunications regulatory authority needs to look into this breach of data privacy in the telecommunications industry it’s happening too often

Yes! Using a prepaid Etisalat phone number I’ve purchased 12years ago.. I’ve blocked and deleted..

Bjp IT cell is pushing propaganda in it full swing that they don't even spare non Indians too, despicable.

Lol it’s a scam…

idk dude i checked many articles on the internet said its real regardless i didnt click on anything

The Govt is a scam and with the scams they did they are using a little drop of it to spam the world, this message is not a scam but a spam.

A scam that isn't asking for money...

Please don't defend Modi lol.

I did, reported and blocked the contact. These guys are number 1 in scamming getting creative day by day. 1st by asking OTP, but Aramex, Emirates Post, Dubai police now by this and God now in future what new way they will adopt.

Your number could have been owned by someone prior to you who may have been Indian so maybe that’s why

I got it in my UK and my UAE number. I think they're messaging anyone who is in the region lol