WhatsApp impersonation frauds on rise

In one case, a youngster from Gachibowli was cheated to the tune of Rs 2 lakh

Hyderabad: The threat of impersonation has hit popular messaging platform WhatsApp as well. The Cyberabad Cybercrime wing recently received two complaints of cheating by impersonation of WhatsApp accounts. In one case, a youngster from Gachibowli was cheated to the tune of Rs 2 lakh. He received a message on WhatsApp purportedly from his cousin from the USA, seeking money for medical emergency. Without verifying, he transferred the money and later realised that it was not his cousin but an impersonated account.

In another incident, a man from Kukatpally received a message from friend who lives abroad, through WhatsApp seeking Rs 11 lakh for medical help. He sent the required money and was cheated. “Earlier, fraudsters were gaining illegal access into WhatsApp accounts by calling the actual owner and collecting the WhatsApp registration OTP saying various reasons. Using the compromised WhatsApp account, they requested financial help from people citing medical emergencies,” an official said, adding that now, fraudsters were hacking mobile numbers of people staying abroad and then communicating with friends and family in India and requesting them for financial help. With the number of complaints on the rise, the police have issued an advisory.

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