Three women in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, were allegedly duped into shaving their heads after a fraudster posing as a government official falsely claimed that a new infectious disease similar to COVID-19 spread through human hair and that the state government would pay ₹15,000 to women who underwent tonsure.
The caller also claimed school and college-going girls would receive ₹45,000 and a laptop, while men would get ₹6,000.
Nearly 20 villagers reportedly prepared to follow the instructions, but only three women shaved their heads before the scam unravelled when the promised payment never arrived and the caller switched off his phone.
Police have registered a case, launched an investigation and detained a suspect for questioning, while officials reiterated that no such government scheme or disease-prevention advisory exists.
Fear, False Promises and a Carefully Planned Deception
According to the victims, the scam began with a phone call from a man who introduced himself as a government official.
To gain their trust, he addressed one woman by name and shared details about her family members before warning of a supposed new disease that spread through human hair.
He falsely claimed that several countries had adopted head shaving as a preventive measure and said the Tamil Nadu government had introduced a financial assistance scheme to encourage the practice.
The caller reportedly created urgency by saying only a limited number of beneficiaries had been selected and instructed villagers to complete the tonsure before officials arrived the following day with the cash.
Some victims also received WhatsApp messages showing photographs of women with shaved heads and currency notes to make the scheme appear genuine.
The deception only came to light after the women attempted to contact the caller for the promised money and later visited the Attur Taluk Office, where officials informed them that no such scheme existed.
Police Probe and Growing Concern Over Misinformation
Investigators believe the fraud relied on a combination of fear, misinformation and impersonation of government officials.
Reports suggest nearly 20 villagers were initially persuaded to shave their heads, but the remaining residents abandoned their plans after learning the promise was fraudulent.
Attur Rural Police have registered a case and are investigating the identity, motive and possible wider network behind the scam.
According to reports, a youth has been detained for questioning in connection with the incident. Authorities have urged residents to verify any government announcement through official channels before acting on unsolicited phone calls or social media messages, particularly those involving health scares or financial incentives.
The incident has also highlighted how misinformation can spread rapidly in rural communities when it exploits public anxiety and trust in government institutions.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This disturbing incident is a reminder that misinformation thrives where fear and trust intersect. Fraudsters increasingly exploit public anxieties around health, government welfare and technology, often targeting elderly and vulnerable people.
Combating such scams requires not only swift police action but also stronger digital literacy, accessible public awareness campaigns and timely communication from authorities to counter false claims before they spread.
Every citizen deserves accurate information and protection from deception, regardless of where they live. How can communities, local administrations and families work together to ensure vulnerable people are better equipped to identify and report misinformation before it causes irreversible harm?
