A cyber fraud case has been registered in Hyderabad after an accused allegedly used a businesswoman’s WhatsApp display picture (DP) to impersonate her and extort ₹1.2 crore from her contacts, highlighting the rising threat of identity-based digital fraud.
Police said the fraudster created a fake WhatsApp account using the victim’s photograph and posed as her to deceive people into transferring money.
Fake identity created using WhatsApp DP
According to investigators, the accused downloaded the display picture of a Hyderabad-based businesswoman and used it to create a fake WhatsApp profile.
The fraudster then contacted individuals known to the victim, impersonating her and claiming urgent financial needs. Victims, believing the requests to be genuine, transferred money to bank accounts provided by the accused.
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₹1.2 crore extorted from contacts
Police said the accused successfully extorted around ₹1.2 crore through multiple transactions by exploiting the trust associated with the victim’s identity.
The scam relied heavily on social engineering tactics, where fraudsters leverage familiarity and urgency to manipulate victims into making quick payments.
Modus operandi mirrors rising “DP fraud” trend
Officials noted that the case follows a growing pattern of WhatsApp DP frauds, where cybercriminals:
- Steal profile photos from social media or messaging platforms
- Create fake accounts impersonating known individuals
- Send urgent requests for money to contacts
- Use mule bank accounts to receive funds
Similar cases have previously been reported where fraudsters impersonated company executives or acquaintances using profile pictures to extract money.
Police register case, investigation underway
Based on the complaint, Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered a case and begun analysing:
- Call records and WhatsApp activity
- Bank account transactions
- Digital footprints of the accused
Efforts are underway to identify the fraudster and trace the flow of funds.
Advisory to the public
Authorities have issued a warning urging citizens to:
- Always verify financial requests, even from known contacts
- Avoid transferring money based on WhatsApp messages alone
- Call the person directly before making urgent payments
- Report suspicious activity to the cybercrime helpline 1930
Officials emphasised that impersonation-based scams are becoming increasingly common, especially on messaging platforms where profile pictures can be easily misused.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
