Salem COVID-19 Hoax: Fraudsters Impersonate Officials to Solicit Mass Tonsuring
Police in Salem are investigating a deceptive phone scam where a caller posed as a local official. The fraudster falsely claimed the government was paying citizens to shave their heads to stop a new viral strain.
The Anatomy of a Salem District Hoax
Attur police have launched an investigation into a sophisticated disinformation campaign that disrupted the Pudhu Kothampadi community. The incident began on July 26, 2026, when Palaniammal, a 30-year-old resident, received a phone call from an individual claiming to be the local Tahsildar. The caller utilized a fabricated public health crisis to manipulate residents, asserting that a fresh COVID-19 variant was circulating through human hair.
False Incentives and Community Impact
The impersonator convinced Palaniammal that the government had sanctioned financial compensation for anyone willing to undergo a tonsure. To facilitate the scam, the caller requested the following:
- Organization of a local group ready for hair removal.
- Photographic proof of the completed tonsuring to process payments.
- A meeting scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2026, to finalize the transaction.
Trusting the caller's purported official status, Palaniammal recruited 20 people. By the evening of July 27, three women had already shaved their heads in anticipation of the promised government funds. The promised official never appeared, and subsequent attempts to contact the originating phone number failed as the device had been powered off.
Law Enforcement Response
The Salem district police are currently tracing the digital footprint of the unknown caller. Authorities emphasize that no such health directive or financial incentive program exists regarding virus transmission through hair. This case highlights the persistent vulnerability of rural populations to impersonation-based fraud and the rapid spread of health-related misinformation.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
