Officials' photos used in WhatsApp scams

Cybercrime is escalating in Kakinada district, with a disturbing new trend where criminals are impersonating public officials by using their photos as WhatsApp display pictures (DPs) to commit fraud. According to police data, over 1,000 cybercrimes have been registered in the district this year alone, with a significant number of victims being highly educated professionals and senior employees.

In a recent high-profile case, a scammer used the photo of Kakinada MP Tangella Uday Srinivas as their WhatsApp DP to deceive the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a company. The criminal, using an unfamiliar number, engaged the CFO in a series of fraudulent messages, ultimately convincing him to transfer a total of Rs. 92 lakh to multiple bank accounts. The fraud was only uncovered after the CFO directly communicated with the real MP. Authorities were able to quickly intervene and freeze Rs. 19 lakh of the stolen funds. This incident mirrors a previous scam where a fraudster, using the then-Kakinada Collector's photo, attempted to extort money from tehsildars.

In response to the growing threat, Kakinada Superintendent of Police (SP) Bindu Madhav stated that the police department is undertaking extensive efforts to raise public awareness. This year, police have conducted 2,493 awareness seminars in collaboration with NGOs, banks, and other organizations to educate citizens on various cybercrime tactics. The police are also actively using social media platforms to disseminate prevention tips.

SP Madhav emphasized the importance of public vigilance and advised people to be extremely cautious when they receive messages from unknown numbers, even if the DP appears to be from a trusted individual. He also highlighted that a swift complaint can significantly increase the chances of recovering lost funds.

The police have provided clear guidelines for reporting cybercrimes:

• In-Person Complaints: Victims can report a crime at the District Police Office's IT core department or at their local police station.

• Helpline: The national cybercrime helpline 1930 is available for immediate assistance.

• Online Portal: Complaints can be filed through the official National Cybercrime Portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in .

According to police data for the year, the most prevalent types of cybercrimes include UPI-related fraud (485 cases), followed by debit and credit card fraud (135 cases) and fraudulent calls (110 cases). Other reported crimes range from online job scams and fake profiles to social media harassment and online betting. The sheer volume and variety of these crimes underscore the urgent need for heightened public awareness and robust preventative measures.