‘WhatsApp hacked’, gynecologist’s contacts duped of ₹6.25 lakh by impersonator over fake parcel

Bengaluru

In a troubling case of cybercrime, the WhatsApp account of a senior gynecologist from Nagarabhavi was allegedly hacked, and her identity was misused to defraud her contacts of a total of ₹6.25 lakh through fake UPI requests. An FIR is registered at West CEN Police Station.

The incident came to light on June 26, 2025, when the 64-year-old doctor, residing in S K Hospital Nagarbhavi Circle, noticed suspicious activity on her WhatsApp. Unknown cybercriminals reportedly hacked her account and began messaging her acquaintances under her name, urgently seeking financial help via digital payments.

The woman doctor was first contacted by an unknown person over phone claiming that he cannot deliver the parcel. The person directed her to contact another stranger over whatsapp. The doctor phoned the same for the parcel. “As soon as I called +21 72490 06496, they got access to my whatsapp contacts and started sending messages,” it is informed in the FIR.

The fraudster, using mobile number +21 72490 06496, sent deceitful messages to at least 11 of her known contacts, including individuals identified as Jasraj, Lingaraju, Shankar Patkal, Kaksha Mukhyan, Jayamala S, Ganesh B S, Shatavalli Darshan, Sarvesh T, Marjada V, and Raksha S. The fraudster impersonating a doctor sent a message saying the parcel has been received and she was unable to make payment as UPI is not functional. Believing the messages to be genuine, many transferred funds to several UPI IDs linked to the fraudster.

The transactions spanned over 24 hours between June 26 and 27, using UPI handles linked to unknown phone numbers such as xxxxxxx599,xxxxxxx793, and xxxxxx164. A detailed list of at least 12 UPI transaction IDs was submitted to the police, showing the financial loss amounting to ₹6,25,010.

Upon discovering the fraud, the victim immediately lodged a formal complaint with the jurisdictional cyber police. An FIR has been registered under Sections 66, 66C, and 66D of the IT Act, along with Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the BNS. 

Police are currently tracing the digital footprint of the accused and analyzing UPI transaction logs to locate the perpetrators. The case serves as a grim reminder of how even trusted contacts and professionals are not safe from the rising wave of WhatsApp impersonation scams.

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