Hyderabad woman scammed of Rs. 1.9 lakh in AI-voice fraud via WhatsApp
Hyderabad: A 72-year-old homemaker from Hyderabad became the latest victim of a sophisticated cybercrime after fraudsters used AI-generated voice technology to impersonate a family member and trick her into transferring a large sum of money.
The victim received a WhatsApp message from a number that appeared to belong to her sister-in-law, who lives in New Jersey, USA. The message requested a money transfer. To confirm the authenticity of the message, the victim called the number. She heard a voice saying “YES,” which led her to believe it was her sister-in-law.
Trusting the message and the voice, the victim transferred ₹1,97,000 (One Lakh and Ninety-Seven Thousand Rupees) via Google Pay. It was only later that she realized the request was fraudulent and promptly filed a complaint with authorities.
Public Advisory:
Fraudsters are increasingly using AI-generated voices to impersonate family members and trick victims into sending money via WhatsApp messages or calls.
To protect yourself:
• Avoid responding to unknown or suspicious calls on WhatsApp.
• Never share your WhatsApp verification code with anyone.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
• If you receive a suspicious message or call asking for money, block the number and report it.
• Always verify the request by calling the person directly using a known number before making any transfers.
• Be cautious of calls that sound unnatural or contain robotic responses.
Additionally, do not open links from unknown sources, as they may compromise your security. If you suspect that your WhatsApp account has been compromised, contact WhatsApp support immediately.
In case of a cybercrime incident, victims should report it to local authorities and their bank. The national cybercrime helpline can be reached at 1930, or complaints can be filed at www.Cybercrime.gov.in. For emergency cases, you can call or WhatsApp at 8712665171.
