Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 30 (PTI) The Keralam police on Wednesday warned people against financial frauds involving fake WhatsApp accounts created using the names and profile pictures of acquaintances.
Police said fraudsters often send messages claiming to be in hospital or in urgent need of money and ask contacts to transfer funds.
The police advised people not to assume that a WhatsApp message was genuine merely because it carried a familiar name and profile picture.
Before transferring money, people should directly call or video-call the person concerned and verify the request, it said.
Messages seeking money citing sudden hospitalisation or other emergencies should be treated with suspicion, police said, adding that the phone number used to send
the message should also be verified.
If necessary, the information should be confirmed with the family members of the person purportedly seeking money, it said.
Those falling victim to such cyber financial frauds should immediately report the matter by calling the cyber helpline number 1930 or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, www.cybercrime.gov.in, police said. PTI LGK ROH
