Punjab Police has issued a fresh public warning after cyber fraudsters allegedly started using the viral online movement called ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ to target people through fake WhatsApp links.
According to information shared by Ludhiana Police scammers are circulating phishing links in name of the viral “Cockroach Janata Party” or CJP and trying to trap social media users especially youngsters, so to spread awareness and prevent people from becoming victims of online fraud Ludhiana Police recently released a 42-second advisory video on its official social media handles.
In the video Police Officer Amrinder Singh explains how even one small mistake while using a mobile phone can result in major financial loss and warned people not to click on suspicious links received through WhatsApp or social media platforms and as per the police advisory cyber criminals are sending attractive political-style messages to users and these messages contain emotional and youth-focused lines such as “The Nation Calls: It is Time to Change the System” and “A Great Opportunity for the Youth.” At the end of the message people are asked to “Join the Cockroach Janata Party” through a clickable link.
Police said that this link is not related to any genuine political registration process but is actually a phishing link created by cyber fraudsters and officials warned that the moment a person clicks on the link the mobile device may get hacked instantly.
According to the advisory once the device is compromised fraudsters can gain access to important personal information stored inside the phone which includes banking details, passwords, OTP access, personal documents and other sensitive data and using this information, scammers can allegedly empty bank accounts and may even apply for loans in the victim’s name without their knowledge.
Police have appealed to people not to trust unknown links even if they appear trendy, emotional or politically interesting and citizens have also been advised to avoid sharing personal details online and to immediately report suspicious cyber activity to the authorities.
The warning comes at a time when Cockroach Janata Party has become one of internet’s biggest viral discussions and the movement began recently on social media and quickly gained popularity among young Indians through memes, satire and political humour.
Interestingly, the movement did not begin as a real political party instead, it emerged online after controversy surrounding remarks reportedly made by Surya Kant during a court hearing when during a hearing the judge allegedly used the words “cockroaches” and “parasites” while referring to people using fake degrees in professions such as law and media.
This eventually led to the creation of the Cockroach Janata Party and reports suggest that on May 16 a 30-year-old man named Abhijeet Dipke shared a Google form on social media platform X inviting people to join the movement and what started as a joke soon turned into a viral internet trend.
The group describes itself as “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed” and uses humour to discuss issues such as unemployment, inflation, exam pressure, media trust and frustration among youth. Its online pages include slogans, posters, recruitment forms and satirical campaign-style content.