Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur

Puttur, Aug 6: After creating fake Facebook and Instagram accounts to demand money, cyber fraudsters are now turning their attention to WhatsApp. In a recent incident in Puttur on Tuesday, a WhatsApp account was hijacked and used to request money from the victim’s contacts.

Cybercriminals hacked the WhatsApp account of an employee at a media organisation and sent out emergency messages to over 100 contacts, pretending to be the account owner. The messages urged friends to transfer money urgently. The victim’s phone was disabled for several hours during the attack.

How the scam unfolded

The fraudsters, using the victim’s own WhatsApp number, sent messages in English saying: "My UPI isn't working. I urgently need Rs 60,000. I’ll return it in two hours."

They asked for the money to be sent to a number belonging to Avinash Kumar (9241745226). However, some friends grew suspicious since the payment was being requested to an unknown account. When they tried calling the victim’s number, it was switched off — raising further alarm and confirming it was a scam.

The "parcel" trick call

The victim also received a call claiming a parcel was ready for delivery. Before calling the given number, they were instructed to press certain keys (* and #) on their phone. Following this, the device became unresponsive, and control of the WhatsApp account was taken over by the hacker.

By 11:30 am, the fraudster had begun messaging the victim’s contacts with fake emergency money requests.

WhatsApp no longer safe?

Previously, scams involving fake Facebook and Instagram accounts requesting money through Messenger were common. But now, this threat has spread to WhatsApp — once considered more secure than other social platforms due to its encryption and wide usage.

With millions relying on WhatsApp for personal and professional communication, this breach has raised serious concerns about its security and the evolving tactics of cybercriminals.