Summary of this article
Beware of scam WhatsApp messages claiming unauthorized debits from unknown senders.
Replying YES or NO to suspicious texts may compromise your phone.
Verify transactions via official banking apps or call the 1930 helpline.
Cybercriminals are using technology to develop new ways to target people and gain access to their money. Hyderabad Police have cautioned users about a purported WhatsApp scam in which a person allegedly lost their savings after replying NO to a message, without sharing an OTP or clicking on a suspicious link.
What Did Hyderabad Police Caution About?
V.C. Sajjanar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, highlighted the alleged cybercrime in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), describing it as a dangerous attack involving technology. He also referred to a chartered accountant who was reportedly affected by the scam.
“This is a very dangerous Auto Execution File Attack planned by cyber criminals using technology!” he said in the post.
According to the post, the purported scam begins with a WhatsApp message claiming that a certain amount has been debited from the recipient’s bank account. The message then asks the person to reply NO if they did not carry out the transaction.
Sajjanar cautioned users against responding to such messages from unknown numbers, even if they appear to concern a bank transaction. “Under no circumstances should you reply YES or NO to messages about bank transactions coming from unknown numbers,” he said.
The post cautioned, replying to the message allows hackers to gain complete control of a victim’s mobile phone within seconds and drain the money from their bank accounts, even if the victim has not shared an OTP or clicked on a suspicious link. However, this technical claim has not been independently verified.
How Can Users Stay Safe?
Users should avoid responding to unexpected messages about bank transactions, especially those received from unknown numbers. If a message claims that money has been debited, they should verify the transaction through their bank’s official mobile application or contact the bank using a verified customer-care number.
They should also avoid clicking on unfamiliar links, downloading unexpected attachments or installing applications suggested by unknown senders. Suspicious WhatsApp accounts can be blocked and reported.
What Should You Do If You Lose Money?
Anyone who suspects they have been targeted by financial cyber fraud should contact the cybercrime helpline at 1930 as soon as possible. A complaint can also be filed through the government’s official cybercrime reporting portal, cybercrime.gov.in. Users should retain relevant messages and transaction details to support the complaint.
