Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar warns that cybercriminals are targeting people through WhatsApp messages that claim a bank transaction has been debited. Citizens are allegedly prompted to reply “NO” if they did not authorize the transaction. Police say the scam is designed to create panic and make recipients respond quickly, increasing the chances they will follow instructions from unknown numbers.
Sajjanar describes the mechanism as an “auto-execution file attack,” where malware hidden in the messages may activate after a reply is sent, potentially giving attackers access to the phone and financial information. Outlets also report that the messages are not framed as OTP requests and do not rely on suspicious links, according to the commissioner’s explanation.
Authorities advise users not to reply “YES” or “NO” to WhatsApp messages about bank transactions from unknown senders. Instead, they should verify alerts through official bank apps or net-banking or by contacting verified customer-care numbers, and avoid opening unexpected attachments or downloading files. If money is lost, police urge victims to call the cybercrime helpline at 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
