Kannada actor Upendra and his wife Priyanka Upendra recently became targets of a cyber scam in which fraudsters hacked their mobile phones. After gaining access, the hackers sent UPI payment requests to their contacts, asking for ₹22,000 under the pretext of a refund.
The couple quickly responded by alerting the public that those messages were fraudulent, warning people not to respond to them or send money.
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Suspicious Message, Link That Broke Trust
The scam began when Priyanka received a message on WhatsApp saying, “An order could not be delivered; please call a number with specific symbols.” Believing it to be legitimate, she called the number given. That’s when her phone was compromised. Soon after, Upendra’s phone was similarly affected when he contacted the same number.
The fraudsters then began sending UPI requests from their accounts to Upendra and Priyanka’s contacts, stating that funds would be refunded within hours. Many recipients, believing them to be authentic, were targeted.
Public Warning and Response
Upset by the misuse of their identities, Upendra took to social media—going live to warn fans and followers not to fall for such messages. Priyanka similarly appealed to the public, clarifying that both her phone and Upendra’s were hacked, and that any UPI requests in their name are fraudulent.
They advised anyone receiving such suspicious messages to verify before acting, and not to trust messages demanding money or promising refunds when they come through unofficial channels.
Lessons from the Incident
This incident highlights how easy it is for cybercriminals to exploit trust via technology. Even celebrities are not immune. Fake messages, cloned numbers, impostor calls—all become tools of fraud.
Cyber security experts recommend:
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links
- Do not trust refund or delivery messages without verifying through official channels
- Be cautious with UPI requests from supposedly known contacts
In sum, this hacking incident involving Upendra and Priyanka underscores a broader risk in the digital age: identity misuse can spread quickly and widely, unless people remain alert.