A viral claim is circulating across Pakistan announcing a “Maryam Nawaz Eidi Scheme” that promises Rs. 5,000 in direct cash transfers to eligible Punjab residents via Easypaisa or JazzCash. The story has been picked up by dozens of third-party websites and spread through WhatsApp forwards, Facebook posts, and YouTube thumbnails.
It goes without saying, but the scheme does not exist. The Punjab government has made no such announcement.
Circulating viral posts describe a detailed-sounding government programme: Rs. 5,000 per person, open to Punjab residents aged 12 and above, registration through an “official portal” using CNIC or B-Form numbers, with payments sent directly to mobile wallets. It uses the right terminology, mentions real platforms, and reads convincingly. That is precisely what makes it dangerous.
Scammers are using a fake website that looks official but is privately registered, promotes gambling apps, and collects ID card numbers, mobile numbers, and wallet details. Further analysis showed that the site is being used to generate revenue through gambling-related advertisements and referrals in addition to harvesting sensitive personal information. The site aggressively targets SEO keywords around government schemes, so when someone searches for the scheme on Google, these fraudulent pages rank high, creating a false impression of legitimacy.
What makes this scam particularly effective is the ecosystem of content that has sprung up around it. Multiple websites are now publishing detailed “registration guides” and “eligibility criteria” for the scheme as though it were real, complete with step-by-step instructions. Some even include disclaimers about avoiding scams while simultaneously presenting the fake scheme as legitimate. This flood of seemingly independent content reinforces the illusion that the program actually exists. There is no official government announcement, verified portal, or authorized short code for any “5,000 Eidi Scheme.”
Anyone who has already entered their CNIC or mobile details on these sites should contact their mobile wallet provider immediately. Easypaisa users can call 3737 and JazzCash users can call 4444 to flag potential unauthorized access. Legitimate government welfare programmes like the Punjab Nigehban Ramzan Package (8070), the Federal Ramzan Relief Package (9999), and BISP Kafaalat (8171) are all free, never charge registration fees, and are only announced through official government domains ending in .gov.pk and verified social media channels.
If the Punjab government does announce a genuine Eid relief scheme, it will come through official channels. Until then, TechJuice advises everyone to not click, register, and share such unverified posts.
