Cyber fraudster targets Kerala Police, impersonates district chief in WhatsApp scam
Kollam (Kerala) (PTI): Police have launched an investigation after a cyber fraudster attempted to cheat cops in this south Kerala district by impersonating the district police chief and seeking money through a bogus WhatsApp account, a police official said on Monday.
A case has been registered at the Kollam Cyber Police Station.
According to police sources, several officials in Kollam Rural Police received messages last week from a WhatsApp number, +9779702927435, which carried the profile picture of District Police Chief Vishu Pratheep TK in uniform.
"The impersonator initiated chats with police personnel and requested a transfer of Rs 40,000, citing an urgent requirement. However, alert officials, aware of similar cyber frauds reported across the state, immediately informed senior officers,” a police officer said.
Police officials said that no one lost money in the attempt.
The Social Media Monitoring Cell later alerted the Cyber Police Station, and a case was registered under the sections 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (committing crime with common intention) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as sections 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by personation using a computer resource or communication device) of the Information Technology Act, police sources said.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the fraudster requested the transfer to a bank account in Songate, New Delhi. Police are tracing the account holder to check for links to other fraud cases.
Kerala has witnessed several similar scams in recent years, in which fraudsters have posed as senior police officers, bureaucrats, politicians, or businessmen.
In separate incidents, finance officers of two major firms in the state lost money after receiving fraudulent requests from impersonators posing as their managing directors, police added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
