Is your nearby ATM closed due to cyber attack fears amid India-Pakistan tension?

A viral WhatsApp message claims that bank ATMs will be closed for 2-3 days. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Government of India has fact-checked this claim. According to PIB, this message is fake, and ATMs will continue to operate as usual.

What was the viral WhatsApp message about
The viral WhatsApp message stated as follows:
"INDO VS PAK IMP

ATM's will be closed for the next 2-3 days probably, due to ransomware cyber-attack, amid the war in Pakistan.
Don't do any online transactions today. Please inform all contacts from your list not to open a video called the "Dance of the Hillary".
It is a virus that formats your mobile. Beware it is very dangerous. They announce it today on BBC radio.
Kindly share"


What did PIB Fact Check?
The PIB, on its X account (formerly Twitter), said that this message is fake. ATMs will continue to operate as usual.

The State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest bank, has also clarified via post on X that all the bank's ATMs, CDMs and digital operations are fully functional.



There is a barrage of misinformation happening on social media and via WhatsApp forward messages due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Earlier, Indian Oil, via its post on X, clarified that there are ample fuel and LPG stocks across the country. Further, the company's supply lines are working smoothly as well. There is no need to buy in panic.


As the tension mounts, the Government of India has advised its citizens not to fall for fake news and trust the news being put out by the government.