Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Chief’s WhatsApp Hacked; Fraudsters Dupe Rs 7.7 Lakh
WhatsApp hack leads to fraud targeting contacts in Chhattisgarh.
The WhatsApp account of Salim Raj, Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, was reportedly hacked in Raipur, leading to a cyber fraud in which his contacts were cheated out of approximately Rs 7.72 lakh. The incident has prompted the Raipur Cyber Cell to register a First Information Report (FIR) and launch an investigation into the case.
According to police sources, cybercriminals gained unauthorized access to Raj’s WhatsApp account and used it to exploit his contact list, which reportedly contained nearly 12,000 numbers. Once inside the account, the hackers allegedly sent mass messages to multiple contacts, claiming that Raj was facing an urgent financial emergency.
The fraudulent messages reportedly stated that his UPI payment system was not functioning and requested immediate transfers of Rs 56,000, assuring recipients that the money would be returned soon. Given Raj’s official position, several individuals believed the messages were genuine and proceeded to transfer funds as requested.
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Preliminary investigations suggest that at least 12 people transferred Rs 56,000 each into accounts shared by the fraudsters. Additionally, a close associate from Bilaspur district reportedly sent Rs 1 lakh, bringing the total amount defrauded in the scam to Rs 7.72 lakh.
The scam came to light when some contacts became suspicious and directly contacted Raj to confirm the requests. It was then discovered that his WhatsApp account had been compromised and that fraudulent messages were being sent in his name without his knowledge.
Following a formal complaint, the Raipur Cyber Cell has taken over the investigation. Officials are currently examining digital evidence and tracing the online activity of the accused. Authorities have described the incident as a carefully planned cyber heist and urged citizens to remain cautious of financial requests received through messaging platforms.
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