17thDecember related Scams Alert | Bhutan Computer Incident Response Team

The Bhutan Computer Incident Response Team (BtCIRT), Cybersecurity Division GovTech Agency earnestly urges the general public to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to National Day related scams and phishing attempts circulating during this festive period. The National Day is a high-visibility event, making it a prime target for scammers trying to exploit public interest with fake announcements, contests, or gifts.

BtCIRT has observed a surge in fraudulent messages spreading across social media and instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, TikTok, and others. These scams falsely claim that the Government, financial institutions, or mobile operators are offering cash prizes, gifts, or special benefits to all citizens. Such messages are designed to deceive, steal personal information, or defraud individuals (as attached below). Their objective is to deceive users into clicking malicious links, sharing personal information, or transferring money.

Links perpetrating criminal activities arehttpx://kzgqp(.)buzz/ httpx://lnkbits(.)com/Nu1000-cash/httpx://getz-funds(.)site httpx://Pfwgg(.)buzz

All information regarding National Day celebration related activities will only be released/announced through official channels such as BBS, official websites and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, etc). Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to respond to or click on any links, messages, emails claiming to be from the government or any other supposedly legible sources, as they are likely scams or phishing attempts. The same caution has to be followed for any other offers/rewards beyond the National Day (e.g, jobs, lottery wins, gifts).

BtCIRT would like to advise all to adhere to the following guidelines and recommendations with regards to scam/phishing emails and messages.

What to look out for:

Messages claiming “National Day gifts” or “special rewards for all citizens”
Links asking you to fill out personal details, bank information, or OTP
Unknown numbers or links using official logos or pretending to be government representatives
Suspicious requests to forward the message to friends or join unknown groups

How to Stay Safe:

Do Not click on any suspicious links received via SMS, Email, Instant Messaging Apps.
Never share your personal or financial information via email, text or instant messages, or over the phone. Be suspicious of unusual payment requests or requests for your personal and financial details.
Avoid sharing such emails, messages or links to avoid misinformation.
Verify official announcements from trusted sources and official pages.
Report suspicious links, numbers or accounts immediately.

If you are a Victim:

If you gave away sensitive information or clicked on links that harvest credentials without your knowledge, don’t panic. You can change your credentials immediately and still be safe.
Review your privacy and security settings on social media and keep all your accounts secure.
Henceforth, if you receive such messages, emails or calls please report to cirt@btcirt.bt so that we can act on it immediately.

Refer Advisory Notice from relevant agencies:

Refer to video for your safety produced by students of DIT, JNEC and Google: