Fact Check: Are ATMs closed for two days due to ransomeware cyber attack? This viral WhatsApp message is…..
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, fake news and misinformation are being spread with the sole aim of creating panic and fear among the Indian public. One such claim gaining traction is a viral WhatsApp message falsely stating that ATMs will be closed for 2–3 days.
However, the Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has debunked this fake news that was being circulated by several social media users. PIB has confirmed that there is no such directive and that ATMs will continue to operate as usual.
In a post on X(previously Twitter), PIB wrote,” Are ATMs closed
A viral #WhatsApp message claims ATMs will be closed for 2–3 days.
This Message is FAKE
ATMs will continue to operate as usual 
Don’t share unverified messages.”
Following the fact-check, the State Bank of India issued a statement confirming that all its ATMs, Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs), Automated Teller Machines (ADWMs), and digital services are fully operational and available for public use. The bank has also issued toll free number for its customers.
“All our ATMs, CDMs/ADWMs and digital services are fully operational and available for public use. Please do not rely on unverified information. For any queries, kindly reach out to your nearest branch or contact us on our toll-free numbers: 1800 1234, 1800 2100, 1800 11 2211, 1800 425 3800,” SBI stated.
Similar messages have been posted by Bank of Baroda, Punjab and Sindh Bank, Canara Bank and Bank of India.
“All our digital services too are operating smoothly, ensuring a seamless banking experience from the comfort of your home,” Punjab National Bank said in a post on social media platform ‘X’.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a review meeting on cybersecurity preparedness of banks and financial institutions in the evening, the ministry said.
The PIB’s fact-checking unit, early Friday morning, debunked a widely circulating video on social media claiming to show Pakistani attacks on Hazira Port in Gujarat and a drone attack in Jalandhar.
The PIB said the Hazira Port video is an unrelated video “confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion”.
The footage captures an oil tanker explosion that occurred on July 7, 2021, and Pakistan is falsely propagating it as its attack on the port. PIB has even urged citizens not to share unverified messages.
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