Recently, the relative of a top police officer in Tamil Nadu received a WhatsApp call from the officer. It had been many days since the two had spoken, and so initially, the relative did not realise something was wrong -- the WhatsApp profile even had the correct photograph, making it seem genuine. After a few enquiries however, the caller asked the relative to transfer some money, which he said was for charity purposes, to a bank account. The account however, did not belong to the police officer. Suspicious, the relative called the officer, and only then did he realise that he had nearly fallen victim to a scam.
Scamsters have called relatives and friends of two T.N. District Collectors in similar cases. Even the Chief Electoral officer has not been spared.
The Cyber Crime Wing of the T.N. Police say cyber criminals are adopting increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit unsuspecting individuals. This is one such alarming trend that has been on the rise: the creation of fake profiles impersonating senior government officials or celebrities to deceive and manipulate people into parting with their money.
