Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament and spokesperson Sambit Patra has confirmed that his WhatsApp account was compromised by scammers. Fraudsters allegedly sent messages from his number to individuals in his contact list, illicitly requesting money.
Scammers Demanded Funds Via QR Code
According to Patra, one of his contacts was asked for ₹55,000 by the scammer. The fraudsters then provided a QR code linked to an individual identified as Jagdish Paswan for the transfer. When the contact offered to deliver the money in person, the scammer refused, insisting on an online transfer, which immediately raised suspicions about the authenticity of the request.
Patra quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform the public about the incident. "My WhatsApp number has been hacked. After WhatsApp was hacked, people are being sent misleading messages from my number, and money is being demanded through various means. Please note that all such messages are completely fake and part of cybercrime. They have nothing to do with me," he posted.
He further stated that he has notified senior officials within the Odisha Police force and urged everyone not to respond to any suspicious messages or transfer money until his account is fully restored and secured.
Public Figures Targeted by WhatsApp Scams
This incident is not isolated, as several other prominent public figures have recently reported similar WhatsApp account compromises. In August 2024, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule experienced a hack where fraudsters allegedly blackmailed her team, demanding $400. Actress Swara Bhasker also reported her WhatsApp account was potentially hacked in September 2024, warning her contacts not to respond to requests for codes, OTPs, or money.
Authorities continue to advise users to be vigilant against such cybercrime attempts, emphasizing the importance of verifying unexpected money requests, even if they appear to come from known contacts.