UP Board Sounds Statewide Cyber Alarm Over Impersonation Accounts on Social Media
The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board (UP Board) has issued an urgent statewide cyber security warning following the discovery of multiple fraudulent social media accounts that are impersonating the education authority. These fake accounts, which use names and logos strikingly similar to the official Board identifiers, have raised serious concerns about the potential spread of misinformation and financial scams targeting vulnerable students and educational institutions across the state.
Immediate Action Ordered Against Fraudulent Profiles
In a decisive move to combat this growing digital threat, UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh has directed all District Inspectors of Schools (DIoS) to immediately identify, report, and take action against any suspicious social media profiles that mimic the Board's official presence. The communication emphasizes heightened vigilance and urges swift reporting of any online activity that appears fraudulent or unauthorized.
The secretary's instructions are clear and comprehensive: if any social media account is found using a name, logo, or identity that resembles the Board's official branding, officials must prepare a detailed report and submit it to the Board without delay. Additionally, such accounts should be reported directly to the respective social media platforms for necessary takedown actions.
Discovery of Suspicious Accounts with Significant Following
While the Board maintains several verified official social media platforms including a Facebook page, WhatsApp account, X (formerly Twitter) handle, and Instagram account, recent monitoring revealed alarming developments. A particularly concerning discovery was a suspicious Facebook page operating under the name 'Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh' that had already amassed approximately 6,500 followers.
This substantial following increases the risk of misinformation reaching a large audience, potentially causing confusion and harm. Further investigation by Board officials uncovered several other fraudulent and suspicious accounts across different platforms, all meticulously designed to closely resemble the Board's legitimate digital presence.
Potential Risks to Students and Educational Institutions
Authorities express deep concern that these fake accounts could be exploited to circulate misleading or unverified information, particularly targeting High School and Intermediate students during critical academic periods. With the ongoing academic cycle and examination-related activities, officials believe the risk is especially heightened at this time.
There is growing apprehension that cybercriminals may use these fraudulent profiles to:
- Conduct online financial fraud and scams
- Extract sensitive personal information from students
- Lure educational institutions into fraudulent schemes
- Spread panic and confusion through false announcements
Preventive Measures and Official Advisory
To counter this emerging threat, the Board has instructed all DIoS officers to alert schools in their respective districts and ensure that students, teachers, and administrators remain extremely cautious when engaging with social media accounts claiming to represent the education board.
Schools have been specifically advised to:
- Rely exclusively on the Board's official website and verified social media accounts for authentic updates and announcements
- Avoid engaging with or following any lookalike or suspicious accounts
- Report any questionable social media activity immediately to authorities
- Educate students about digital safety and recognizing fraudulent online behavior
The secretary has issued a stern warning against interacting with any unofficial accounts, stressing that misinformation from unauthorized sources could lead to confusion, unnecessary panic, or even financial harm to students and their families. This cyber alert comes as part of broader efforts to protect the educational community from digital threats during crucial academic periods.
