Puttur – In a worrying evolution of digital scams, cybercriminals have now turned their focus to WhatsApp, previously considered one of the more secure messaging platforms. In a recent incident in Puttur, a media employee’s WhatsApp account was hijacked and used to trick over 100 contacts into sending money.
The Scam Unfolds
On Tuesday morning, the victim’s WhatsApp number was hacked, and messages were sent out in fluent English urgently requesting ₹60,000 from friends and colleagues. The messages falsely claimed:
“My UPI isn’t working. I urgently need Rs 60,000. I’ll return it in two hours.”
The money was asked to be transferred to an account linked to Avinash Kumar (Phone: 9241745226). However, some recipients found the request suspicious — especially as the account details didn’t match the victim’s name. Attempts to call the victim failed, as the phone had been rendered inactive, confirming the fraudulent nature of the appeal.
The Parcel Call Trap
The victim reportedly received a call earlier, where the caller claimed a parcel was ready for delivery. Before making further contact, the victim was asked to press specific keys ( and #)* on the phone. After doing so, the phone became unresponsive, allowing hackers to take control of the WhatsApp account remotely.
Broader Implications
This incident highlights how cyber scams are evolving — moving from fake Facebook and Instagram profiles to direct account hijacks on WhatsApp.
With WhatsApp’s widespread use for personal and professional communication, this breach raises new questions about digital safety, even on end-to-end encrypted platforms.
Authorities urge users to stay alert, avoid clicking unknown links, never share OTPs, and not follow suspicious instructions on calls.