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A 64-year-old man in Mangaluru lost ₹52,000 after cybercriminals allegedly used his friend’s hacked WhatsApp account to send a fraudulent money request.
The victim transferred the amount after receiving an urgent message containing a QR code, believing that his friend genuinely needed financial assistance. Police have registered a case under the Information Technology Act.
How Did the WhatsApp Fraud Begin?
According to the complaint, the victim received a WhatsApp message from his friend’s mobile number on September 22. The message stated that the sender urgently required money and requested a transfer of ₹52,000.
A payment QR code was included in the message, making it possible for the recipient to transfer the requested amount. Since the communication appeared to come from someone he personally knew, the victim believed the request was genuine.
How Was the Money Transferred?
The complainant scanned the QR code received through WhatsApp and transferred ₹52,000 from his bank account. At the time, he was unaware that the message had allegedly been sent by fraudsters rather than his friend.
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The transaction was completed based on the belief that the money would reach the intended person. The complaint does not specify which payment application was used or identify the bank account that received the funds.
When Did the Victim Discover the Fraud?
The fraud came to light when the victim subsequently made inquiries about the money request.
He learned that his friend’s mobile phone had been hacked and that the WhatsApp message requesting financial assistance had been sent by cybercriminals. The discovery established that the request had not originated from his friend.
What Legal Action Has Been Taken?
Following the victim’s complaint, Kota police registered a case under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Section 66C deals with identity theft involving the fraudulent or dishonest use of another person’s electronic identity credentials.
Section 66D addresses cheating by personation through computer resources or communication devices.
These provisions are relevant to allegations involving criminals impersonating legitimate account holders to obtain money.
What Does This Mean for WhatsApp Users?
The incident highlights how a compromised messaging account can be used to exploit trust between friends and acquaintances. Fraudsters may send payment requests from familiar numbers, making fraudulent messages appear credible.
Users should independently verify unexpected financial requests through a direct phone call before transferring money or scanning payment QR codes.
The420 Insight: A familiar WhatsApp number does not guarantee that a message is genuine. Always confirm urgent money requests directly with the person concerned. If fraud occurs, immediately contact your bank and report it through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
