WHATSAPP HACKED — JOURNALIST SCAMMED; AJIT ANJUM SHARES EXPERIENCE

A cyber fraud incident involving senior Indian journalist Ajit Anjum has highlighted the growing misuse of hacked messaging accounts to execute financial scams. The incident occurred after attackers compromised a WhatsApp account and used it to request money from known contacts, ultimately leading to financial losses before the deception was uncovered.

Hacked Account Used to Request Emergency Payments

According to reports, the scam began when the WhatsApp account of journalist Prabhakar Mani Tiwari was compromised by unknown attackers. The hijacked account was then used to send urgent messages to contacts, claiming that a UPI payment system had been blocked and requesting immediate financial assistance.

Believing the request to be genuine, Anjum reportedly instructed his team member to transfer funds through multiple QR codes shared in successive messages. The fraud continued through repeated payment requests until suspicions were raised after several transactions.

In total, approximately ₹11,000 was transferred before the scam was identified and stopped.

Fraud Discovered After Direct Phone Verification

The deception came to light when the journalist contacted the original account owner through a direct phone call. During the conversation, it was confirmed that the WhatsApp account had been hacked and that other individuals had also received similar payment requests from the attackers.

This verification exposed the scam as part of a broader pattern of account takeover fraud, where cybercriminals impersonate trusted contacts to manipulate victims into sending money.

Experts Warn Against Impersonation-Based Cyber Scams

Cybersecurity experts emphasize that such attacks rely heavily on trust and urgency. Once an account is compromised, attackers often send urgent financial requests to multiple contacts simultaneously, increasing the likelihood of successful fraud.

Security specialists recommend verifying any unexpected money request through direct voice or video calls before taking action. They also advise users to be cautious of repeated QR code payment instructions, which are increasingly used in digital payment scams.

Growing Trend of Messaging App-Based Financial Fraud

Incidents like this reflect a wider rise in messaging platform fraud, where attackers exploit social media and communication apps to impersonate known individuals. These scams are often difficult to detect in real time due to the personal nature of the communication.

Authorities continue to urge users to remain vigilant and verify identities before transferring funds, even when requests appear to come from trusted contacts.

Conclusion

The case underscores how compromised messaging accounts can quickly be turned into financial fraud tools. As cybercriminals increasingly target communication platforms, experts stress that verification remains the strongest defense against impersonation-based scams.