Defence Pensioners Advised to Remain Vigilant Against Fraudsters
The SPARSH (System for Pension Administration – Raksha) platform has issued an important advisory warning defence pensioners, family pensioners, and veterans about fraudsters who are attempting to exploit pension-related grievances for financial gain.
According to the notice, certain individuals are falsely posing as Civilian Government Employees, Defence Personnel, or persons having contacts in the Office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj [PCDA(P)]. These fraudsters claim that they can expedite pension-related work or resolve grievances in exchange for money. For Pension Account Benefits on SBI – read details here.
For more updates on SPARSH – Check Updates here.
PCDA (Pension), Prayagraj Has Not Authorized Any Individual or Agency
The advisory clearly states that PCDA (Pension), Prayagraj has not authorized any person, agent, consultant, or private agency to undertake pension-related work on behalf of defence pensioners.
Any individual claiming to have special influence or contacts within PCDA (Pension) should be treated with extreme caution.
Common Tactics Used by Fraudsters
Defence pensioners should be alert if someone:
- Claims to have direct contacts in PCDA (Pension), Prayagraj.
- Promises early settlement of pension grievances.
- Offers to arrange arrears, revised pension, or pending dues.
- Demands money, commission, service charges, gratification, or bribes.
- Requests personal information such as Aadhaar details, bank account information, OTPs, passwords, or SPARSH login credentials.
These are common warning signs of fraudulent activity.
Use Only Official Channels
SPARSH has advised pensioners to rely only on official channels for obtaining pension-related information and assistance.
Official PCDA (Pension) Call Centre
Toll-Free Number: 1800-180-5325
I have personally contacted the official toll-free helpline 1800-180-5325 and received a prompt and satisfactory response from the PCDA (Pension) support team. This helpline number is also prominently displayed on the official SPARSH portal, making it the most reliable source for pension-related assistance. During the interaction, officials confirmed that PCDA (Pension), Prayagraj has not introduced or authorized any WhatsApp number, agent, intermediary, or private individual for resolving pension-related issues of Defence Pensioners, including Army, Navy, Air Force personnel, Defence Civilians, and their family pensioners. Pensioners are therefore advised not to trust any person claiming to provide special assistance through unofficial WhatsApp groups, mobile numbers, or paid services.
Pensioners should use only this official helpline for queries regarding:
- Pension revision
- Arrears
- PPO details
- Life Certificate status
- Family pension matters
- Other pension-related grievances
Use the Official SPARSH Portal
For viewing pension details and lodging grievances, pensioners should directly access the official SPARSH portal:
https://www.sparsh.defencepension.gov.in
After logging in with their registered User ID and Password, pensioners can:
- View pension details
- Download pension documents
- Check payment status
- Update eligible information
- Register and track grievances online
Never Share Sensitive Information
SPARSH and PCDA (Pension) will never ask pensioners to share:
- OTPs
- Passwords
- Banking PINs
- ATM details
- Internet banking credentials
Any request for such information should be treated as suspicious and reported immediately.
Safety Tips for Defence Pensioners
- Deal only through official SPARSH and PCDA (Pension) channels.
- Do not make any payment to unauthorized persons.
- Verify all communications before taking action.
- Keep SPARSH login credentials confidential.
- Inform fellow veterans and family pensioners about such scams.
Conclusion
The latest SPARSH advisory serves as a timely reminder for defence pensioners to stay alert against pension-related frauds. No individual or agency has been authorized by PCDA (Pension), Prayagraj to resolve pension grievances in exchange for money. Pensioners should use only the official SPARSH portal and the toll-free helpline 1800-180-5325 for assistance. Remaining vigilant and avoiding unauthorized intermediaries is the best way to protect pension benefits and personal information.
Key Message:
Stay Vigilant – Do Not Pay Anyone for Pension-Related Services. Use Only Official SPARSH and PCDA (Pension) Channels.