The Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), a State government undertaking, has lodged a police complaint against an online scam promising interest-free loans misusing the financial institution’s name and logo.
The Thiruvananthapuram city cyber police wing has registered a case under Section 66 of the Information Technology (IT) Act based on its complaint, KFC said on Saturday. The interest-free personal loans were offered via video on the Facebook page ‘Apply Today Online Service.’
The scamsters used the logo of the Kerala government as profile picture and the KFC logo as well. Loans ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹50 lakh were on offer within 30 minutes. People who fell in trap and called or messaged to the phone number accompanying the ad video were reportedly asked to remit a ‘processing fee.’
The police have reportedly traced the phone number in the scam advertisement to Ludhiana in Punjab, according to KFC officials.
The KFC had informed the cyber wing on being alerted about the post. KFC described itself as a financial institution of the Kerala government specialising in offering loans to start or develop industries. Details about KFC loans are publicised through its social media handles. Applications for its loans can be filed only through its official website www.kfc.org and the KFC branches.
Moreover, the KFC does not demand online remittance of processing fees in advance, KFC officials said. They also advised the public to be on guard against scamsters.
Published – February 22, 2025 08:06 pm IST