Ahmedabad businessman duped of ₹1 lakh after fraudster hacks relative’s WhatsApp, seeks money posing as family member
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A 37-year-old businessman in Thaltej, Ahmedabad has lodged a cyber fraud complaint after allegedly being duped of ₹1 lakh by a fraudster who hacked his relative’s WhatsApp account and posed as her to seek urgent financial assistance.
According to Bodakdev police, the complainant, Sheel Rajiv Vyas, a resident of Heritage Homes near Thaltej Gam Metro Station, received a WhatsApp message on February 9 from a number purportedly belonging to his relative, Seemaben, who resides in California, United States.
Police said the accused allegedly hacked Seemaben’s WhatsApp account and used it to message Vyas, claiming she urgently required ₹ 1 lakh. Trusting the request due to their close family relationship, Vyas consulted his father, who advised him to transfer the amount.
The complainant subsequently transferred ₹ 1 lakh in two instalments from his mother Sonalben Vyas’s Axis Bank account to a UCO Bank account provided by the fraudster. The accused allegedly shared complete bank details, including account number, IFSC code, PAN information and branch details, to make the request appear genuine.
After the transfer, the fraudster sent a confirmation message stating that the money had been received.
However, the following day, the same WhatsApp account allegedly sought an additional
₹1 lakh. This raised suspicion, prompting the complainant’s father to independently verify the request through acquaintances living near Seemaben in California. It was then discovered that her WhatsApp account had been compromised and that she had made no such request.
Police said the complainant had initially submitted an application on February 10 through the cyber fraud helpline, following which a formal FIR was registered after verification.
An offence has been registered against the unidentified accused and the beneficiary account holder. Police are examining the bank trail and digital evidence, including WhatsApp chat records submitted by the complainant, to trace those involved.
