Fake Government Call Dupes Tamil Nadu Women Into Shaving Heads for ₹15,000 Scam

A bizarre cyber fraud has come to light in Tamil Nadu's Salem district, where three women allegedly shaved their heads after being deceived by a scammer posing as a government official.

The incident took place in Puthukothampadi village, near Attur in Salem district. According to reports, the fraud began on Sunday night when a woman named Palaniammal received a phone call from a man claiming to be the Attur Tehsildar.

The caller reportedly knew not only Palaniammal's name but also the names of her family members, making his identity appear credible. Exploiting fear and misinformation, the scammer claimed that a new infectious disease, similar to COVID-19, was spreading through human hair. He further alleged that people in other countries were shaving their heads to protect themselves from the disease.

To make the story more convincing, the fraudster claimed that the Tamil Nadu government had launched a scheme offering ₹15,000 to women who shaved their heads as a preventive measure.

Believing the false claims, three women in the village reportedly shaved their heads before discovering that no such government scheme or health advisory existed. Authorities later confirmed that the caller was a fraudster.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about cyber fraud and misinformation, with officials urging people to verify government announcements through official sources before acting on unsolicited phone calls or messages.

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