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Keralam Police Warn Against WhatsApp Fraud Using Fake Accounts
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News18•30-09-2026, 18:00
Keralam Police Warn Against WhatsApp Fraud Using Fake Accounts
- •Keralam police issued a warning about financial frauds involving fake WhatsApp accounts impersonating acquaintances.
- •Fraudsters send messages claiming urgent need for money, often citing hospitalisation, and ask contacts to transfer funds.
- •Police advise verifying requests by directly calling or video-calling the person before transferring any money.
- •Treat messages seeking money for emergencies with suspicion and verify the sender's phone number.
- •Victims of cyber financial fraud should report incidents to helpline 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Key Questions Answered
People should directly call or video-call the person concerned to verify the request before transferring any funds, rather than assuming the message is genuine because of a familiar name and profile picture.
Victims of cyber financial frauds can immediately report the matter by calling the cyber helpline number 1930 or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Fraudsters create fake WhatsApp accounts using the names and profile pictures of acquaintances, and then send messages claiming to be in hospital or facing urgent emergencies requiring immediate money transfers.