Rise in cyber fraud: Cyberabad Traffic Police X account among latest targets
Hyderabad: The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Cyberabad Traffic Police was reportedly hacked on December 19, 2024, causing confusion among Hyderabad citizens. The account, which is typically used to provide traffic updates and public announcements, was compromised by an individual identified as Brad Garlignhouse (@garlignhouse), who claims to be the CEO of Ripple.
After the hack, the Cyberabad Traffic Police X handle underwent a complete transformation. The hackers changed the handle’s name and began reposting content related to cryptocurrency platforms Bitso and Ripple.
The most recent post, shared from Ripple’s official handle (@Ripple), promoted the launch of Ripple USD (RLUSD) on global exchanges. The post read, “Ripple USD (RLUSD) is now live on global exchanges. An enterprise-grade stablecoin built for everyone, $RLUSD combines fiat stability with blockchain efficiency: ➡️ Instant global payments, 24/7. ➡️ Seamless on/off ramps. ➡️ Access value in real-world assets. ➡️ on.ripple.com/RLUSD.”
Prior to the hack, the last legitimate post from the Cyberabad Traffic Police account was on December 18, 2024, at 12:17 p.m. It informed citizens about slow traffic movement due to a vehicle breakdown on the Shilpa flyover towards IKEA in Gachibowli.
Traffic Update 18.12.2024, 12:15 Hrs Traffic movement is slow on Shilpa flyover towards IKEA , Due to Vehicle Breakdown Gachibowli Police are working to clear Traffic. Please cooperate with Traffic Police pic.twitter.com/ycxiM1EeMs
— Brad Garlignhouse (@garlignhouse) December 18, 2024
The sudden shift in content left many citizens puzzled, leading to concerns over the account’s security. One citizen, 28 Sag (@898SAG), commented, “Cyberabad traffic police account hacked or sold? @garlignhouse @cyberabadpolice @hydcitypolice.” Another citizen, Lokendra Singh (@HYDTrafficMan), said, “Something went wrong with your X handle @cyberabadpolice @CPCyberabad.”
Cyberabad traffic police account hacked or sold ? @garlignhouse @cyberabadpolice @hydcitypolice pic.twitter.com/sePXtGVrjI
— 28 SAG (@898SAG) December 19, 2024
The incident highlights a growing trend of cyber fraud and hacking, with many citizens calling for strict action against such activities. There have been increasing reports of similar incidents involving high-profile accounts. In September 2024, the official X account of L&T Metro Hyderabad (@ltmhyd) was also hacked, with a post promoting a malicious cryptocurrency token. Other compromised accounts include the official handles of Malaysia Truly Asia (@TourismMalaysia), Lenovo India (@Lenovo_in), and several media outlets.
@CYBTRAFFIC
Something went wrong with your x handle @cyberabadpolice @CPCyberabad pic.twitter.com/TyPjxiNfv7— Lokendra Singh (@HYDTrafficMan) December 20, 2024
The public is urged to remain cautious when sharing confidential information on social media platforms. The Cyberabad Police have yet to release an official statement regarding the hack, but citizens are demanding immediate action to secure the account and prevent further incidents.
