Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sept 15: In a serious case of cybercrime, Sandalwood actors Upendra and his wife Priyanka Upendra have fallen prey to a mobile phone hacking scam that led to their personal contacts being targeted via WhatsApp impersonation.

The cyberattack resulted in Rs 1.6 lac being fraudulently extracted from friends of the couple who were misled by fake messages sent from Priyanka's compromised account.

The incident started when Priyanka received a call from an unknown number claiming to be related to a parcel delivery. The caller, speaking in Hindi, instructed her to dial a specific code. Believing the request was legitimate, Priyanka entered the code on her phone — unknowingly handing over access to scammers.

“I saved and dialed the code they gave me. I didn’t realise it was a hacking trick,” Priyanka said in a televised interview. “Unfortunately, I repeated the action using Upendra’s phone when it didn’t work on mine. That’s how both our devices got compromised.”

WhatsApp compromised, friends targeted

Soon after gaining control of Priyanka’s WhatsApp account, the hackers began messaging her contacts, posing as her. The messages falsely claimed her UPI was not working and requested urgent financial assistance.

“They said things like, ‘Please send money, I’ll return it in two hours,’” said Upendra, speaking in a social media video. “Some people grew suspicious when the hacker avoided calls, but sadly, a few believed it and sent money.”

Three of Priyanka’s friends — identified as Gayathri, Chetana, and Ayush — fell for the scam, collectively losing Rs 1.6 lac.

In addition to the scam messages, hackers misused Priyanka’s access as an admin in several WhatsApp groups. “They removed members from the groups I managed. My WhatsApp went blank. All of this happened within just one hour,” she revealed.

Police complaint filed, cyber teams involved

The couple has registered a complaint at the Sadashivanagar police station. Priyanka has also been in contact with Mumbai Cyber Crime authorities to aid in the investigation. Steps are being taken to track the fraudsters and freeze the related bank accounts used in the scam.

“We are working with police to stop further misuse and prevent others from being victimized,” she confirmed.

Upendra and Priyanka’s public warning

Both actors have now issued strong warnings to the public about the growing threat of cyber scams. Priyanka Upendra said: “My phone and WhatsApp were hacked. If anyone receives messages from my number asking for money, please don’t send anything. Always verify by calling directly.” Upendra said: “This could happen to anyone. Please don’t dial unknown codes or click suspicious links. And never send money just based on a message.”

Priyanka added that the fraudsters used convincing tactics and even mimicked delivery services. Because she had recently ordered furniture from another state, she didn’t question the Hindi-speaking caller.

She also raised concerns about AI-generated voice scams, warning that scammers can now impersonate people using recorded voices.

Key safety reminders from cyber experts:

• Never dial codes or click on links sent by unknown contacts.

• Always verify financial requests through voice or video calls.

• Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp and other apps.

• Stay alert to phishing calls, especially those claiming to be from delivery services or banks.

• Report suspicious activity to local cybercrime units immediately.

This high-profile incident has triggered widespread concern among fans and the public, and has also drawn attention to the increasing vulnerability of digital communication platforms. Upendra family's openness about their ordeal has been praised as a valuable public service, encouraging greater cyber awareness and caution.