Kerala is witnessing a new form of cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate district collectors on WhatsApp to deceive subordinate officers and request money. Officials say these scams often begin with simple work related questions but soon turn into urgent financial demands.
Recent incidents have been reported in Wayanad and Kasaragod. District officials in both regions discovered WhatsApp accounts pretending to be their collectors. These accounts used stolen profile photos and formal language similar to official communication. Officers said the conversations appeared normal at first, with questions such as “Where are you now?” or “Any update on the work?” The tone then shifted to instructions asking for immediate fund transfers.
A common message used by the impersonators stated: “I am busy attending an urgent meeting. You need to transfer funds to an executive prospect’s account on my behalf. I will reimburse you by the end of the day.” The scammers also asked for payment receipt screenshots, claiming they were needed for reimbursement and record keeping.
The Kasaragod District Collector confirmed the impersonation attempts and warned that no legitimate fund transfer request is ever sent through WhatsApp. He advised all officers to verify financial communication through official channels. The district administration issued an advisory and filed a cybercrime complaint.
In Wayanad, the District Collector used her official Facebook page to warn the public about a WhatsApp number impersonating her. An initial inquiry by the Wayanad cyber police found that the number was registered in Vietnam. It appeared as a business account and joined WhatsApp in October two thousand twenty five. Officials believe it was created solely for fraud.
Cybersecurity experts say impersonation scams involving senior government officials are increasing. Fraudsters take advantage of hierarchical structures and urgency based messages to pressure officers into responding quickly without proper verification.
Police have urged government employees and the public not to respond to unsolicited WhatsApp requests for money. They recommend verifying all messages through official phone numbers or emails and reporting suspicious communication to cybercrime authorities.
These incidents underline the growing misuse of digital platforms and official identities. Experts stress that vigilance, official communication channels, and dual verification are essential to stop such scams. Kerala police are taking the matter seriously and may pursue legal action against those responsible.
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