Money for tonsuring creates flutter in Salem
A rumor regarding government financial assistance for tonsuring, falsely linked to a new COVID-19 variant, caused confusion in the Salem district of India. Local police are investigating the source of the hoax calls.
Why it matters
The incident illustrates the real-world impact of misinformation and social engineering scams on vulnerable populations.
Rumour spread by unidentified persons stating that money would be provided for tonsure created a flutter in Salem district.
According to the police, Palaniammal (30), a resident of Pudhu Kothampadi near Attur, received a call from an unknown number on Sunday evening (July 26, 2026). The person on call, alleging that he was the Tahsildar of Attur, claimed that a new variant of COVID-19 was spreading through hair, and that the government was providing financial assistance for tonsure.
The person instructed her to gather people to tonsure and that he would come to their area on Monday (July 27, 2026), and also share a few images of those who tonsured for money.
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