Hyderabad — Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, a senior IPS officer known for his sharp stance against organised crime, disclosed on Friday that he had become the target of a cybercriminal who created a fake Facebook account in his name and used it to solicit money from unsuspecting contacts. The disclosure has drawn renewed attention to India’s rapidly escalating wave of online impersonation and digital fraud.
In a public advisory issued through his official account on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Sajjanar said the fraudster sent messages to several individuals in his network, claiming he was in distress and urgently needed financial help.
“One of my friends was deceived and transferred ₹20,000 to a fraudster’s account,” he wrote, urging citizens never to respond to unsolicited requests for money—even if they appear to come from trusted public officials. “Always verify by directly contacting the person over a phone call before taking any action.”
A Fraud Attempt That Crossed a Line
While fake accounts impersonating celebrities, politicians and government officers have become disturbingly common in India’s digitally expanding population, the targeting of a high-ranking and widely respected police commissioner has unsettled both officials and citizens.
“This act reflects the increasing brazenness of cybercriminals,” a senior Hyderabad Police officer said, noting that criminals are now willing to impersonate even the very officials tasked with policing them.
Authorities believe the fraudster created multiple fake profiles, sending personalised pleas that mimicked the commissioner’s communication style. Such scams exploit human trust more than technological loopholes.
A Warning for the Public
Cybersecurity experts say the incident underscores a widening trend: deception through cloned digital identities. Cybercriminals increasingly turn to social engineering—an attempt to manipulate victims emotionally rather than technically—by fabricating crises, impersonating authority figures or hijacking existing contacts.
“If criminals can create fake accounts of top police officials and successfully extract money, the public is even more vulnerable,” the officer added.
The Hyderabad City Police said steps have been initiated to take down the impersonator’s social media pages. Officials urged citizens to block and report suspicious accounts immediately and avoid engaging with unverified links, messages or video calls.
Reporting and Response Mechanisms
The police reiterated the need for the public to use official grievance redressal systems. Cyber frauds can be reported to the 1930 Helpline or filed online at cybercrime.gov.in, platforms designed to allow faster intervention and potential reversal of fraudulent transactions if reported quickly.
For Mr. Sajjanar, the incident serves as a reminder that even senior law enforcement officers are not immune to digital deception. “The best defence is verification,” he said, calling on citizens to remain vigilant in an era where trust can be exploited with a single message.
