A WhatsApp message asking for urgent financial help may not always come from the person whose name appears on the screen. Cybercriminals are gaining access to WhatsApp accounts and using familiar identities to request money from friends and relatives, prompting Rajasthan Police to warn users against trusting unexpected payment requests.
How Does the Scam Work?
Fraudsters use suspicious QR codes, deceptive links and fraudulent messages to trick WhatsApp users into giving them access to their accounts. Once access is obtained, criminals can communicate with the account holder’s contacts while appearing to be the genuine user.
Rajasthan Police’s R-4-C cybercrime unit has highlighted this method as a threat to people who rely on WhatsApp for everyday communication.
Why Do Friends Become Targets?
The scam exploits the trust people place in messages received from familiar contacts. When a friend or relative appears to request urgent financial assistance, recipients may transfer money without checking whether the request is genuine.
Fraudsters take advantage of this familiarity by creating false emergencies and asking contacts to send money. The account holder’s identity becomes a means of approaching potential victims.
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Can a QR Code Expose Your Account?
Suspicious QR codes can be used to deceive people into linking their WhatsApp accounts to devices controlled by criminals. Fraudulent links may also direct users towards websites or instructions intended to compromise their accounts.
However, scanning a QR code does not automatically mean an account has been hacked. The risk arises when users follow deceptive instructions or approve unauthorised device-linking requests.
How Can You Identify a Fake Request?
An unexpected demand for money, particularly one involving an urgent emergency, should be independently verified even when it comes from a saved contact.
Recipients should contact the person through a trusted phone number before transferring funds. A familiar profile photograph or phone number should not be treated as sufficient proof that the message is genuine.
What Should WhatsApp Users Avoid?
Additional Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma has urged users to remain cautious about unfamiliar links, suspicious QR codes and applications received from unknown individuals.
Users should avoid downloading unverified APK files, sharing verification codes or approving device-linking requests they did not initiate. They should also regularly review WhatsApp’s linked-device settings and remove unfamiliar sessions.
What If Your Friend’s Account Is Hacked?
If a known contact suddenly requests money, verify the message through a separate call. If the account appears compromised, alert the genuine account holder and avoid responding to suspicious payment instructions.
Anyone whose WhatsApp account has been accessed without permission should secure the account, remove unauthorised linked devices and warn contacts about fraudulent messages.
The420 Insight: Trust the Person, Not Just the Message
WhatsApp fraud is not limited to stealing accounts. A compromised account can also expose friends and relatives to financial losses because criminals exploit existing relationships.
Before sending money, independently confirm who is requesting it. If a fraudulent transfer has already occurred, immediately inform the bank, call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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