8th Pay Commission Salary Calculator: How One Click Can Empty Govt Employees’ Bank Accounts

A new cyber fraud is targeting government employees and pensioners across India by exploiting interest around the 8th Pay Commission. Fraudsters are circulating WhatsApp messages that promise to show estimated salary hikes under the 8th CPC. Instead of providing any official calculation, the links push users to download harmful APK files that can compromise their phones and bank accounts.

The warning has been amplified by Cyberdost, the cyber safety and awareness handle of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Authorities have clarified that these messages are fake and not issued by any government department.

How the 8th Pay Commission APK Scam Works

Scammers send personalised WhatsApp messages claiming that employees can check their revised salary under the 8th Pay Commission. The message includes a link that prompts the recipient to download an APK file.

Once installed, the APK can:

• Give fraudsters remote access to the mobile phone
• Monitor SMS alerts, including OTPs
• Track banking activity
• Transfer money from linked accounts

Officials have stressed that the government does not circulate APK files via WhatsApp for salary, pension or Pay Commission updates. Any such file from an unknown number should be treated as unsafe.

Official Source for 8th CPC Updates

The government has launched the official 8th Pay Commission website at https://8cpc.gov.in/
for authentic information. Employees and pensioners are advised to type the website address directly into their browser rather than clicking on forwarded links.

The 8th CPC is significant for more than one crore central government employees and pensioners, as it will make recommendations on pay, allowances and pensions.

In Parliament, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed that the government notified the constitution of the Eighth Central Pay Commission through a resolution dated November 3, 2025. The commission has been given 18 months to submit its recommendations on pay, allowances and pension-related matters.

Bank Advisory for Pensioners and Senior Citizens

Bank of Baroda has also issued guidance after noticing similar fraud attempts targeting pensioners. The bank has urged customers to:

Avoid clicking unknown links

Never share OTPs, PINs or passwords

Not install apps or screen-sharing tools on someone's instructions

Verify suspicious claims with family members or their home branch

Customers are encouraged to contact official customer care numbers or visit the nearest branch if they receive doubtful messages.

Who Can Submit Feedback to the 8th Pay Commission?

The official 8th CPC portal has invited structured feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including:

Central government and Union Territory employees

Judicial officers and court staff

Members and staff of regulatory bodies

Associations or unions of serving and retired employees

Pensioners and pensioner groups

Researchers, academicians and other interested individuals

The deadline for submitting responses through the official portal is March 16, 2026.

Key Safety Rules to Follow

Authorities advise government employees and pensioners to remember:

The government never sends salary calculators as APK files on WhatsApp.

Download apps only from trusted sources such as official app stores.

Do not respond to unknown callers or messages seeking personal details.

Report suspicious cyber activity immediately to the national cyber crime helpline or the official cybercrime reporting portal.

With the 8th Pay Commission drawing widespread attention, cyber criminals are attempting to exploit curiosity and financial expectations. Employees and pensioners are urged to rely only on verified platforms and ignore unsolicited APK links to safeguard their personal data and savings.