Hyderabad: Cyber fraudsters are exploiting fake WhatsApp display pictures to swindle unsuspecting victims, with even top officials coming under attack. The latest complaint involves a fake WhatsApp account created in the name of IAS officer Dr G. Srujana, using a Nepal-based number to message district welfare officers demanding urgent funds.
Srujana’s personal secretary Manikanthesh lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police after learning that three district welfare officers received fraudulent messages in her name seeking emergency financial help. The officer grew suspicious and alerted the police, who registered a case and began an investigation.
Cyber police said this pattern of fraud is increasingly common, with fake WhatsApp accounts being created in the names of judges, army officers, police officials, and other public figures to demand money under false pretexts. In Hyderabad, similar scams recently targeted a judge and an army officer.
Fraudsters typically use widely available profile photos of known persons and message their contacts with urgent requests, citing medical emergencies or police cases to pressure them into sending money. These rackets have also targeted private company employees, lower-level government staff, and police personnel.
Investigators said the root of the problem lies in careless data handling by firms using third-party agencies for HR, payroll, or service management. These agencies collect employee details and sometimes fail to protect them, making it easy for criminals to get personal data. Some employees themselves leak data for money, cyber police noted.
Using open-source images of public figures as display pictures, fraudsters cast a wide net through WhatsApp to trap victims. Police urged citizens to stay alert, avoid sharing personal information or sending money without verification, and immediately report any suspicious messages or calls demanding financial help.
