West Bengal Minister Ajay Kumar Poddar's WhatsApp Hacked, Fraudsters Demand Money Citing UPI Failure

West Bengal minister Dr. Ajay Kumar Poddar's WhatsApp account has been hacked, and fraudsters are now using his number to send fake messages demanding Rs 35,000.

Dr. Ajay Kumar Poddar, the West Bengal minister who holds the Public Works Department and Public Health Engineering portfolios, has had his WhatsApp account hacked. The account linked to his mobile number 9434238684 was taken over on Monday, and cybercriminals are now using it to send fake messages to people on his contact list, asking them for money.

How the fraudsters are luring victims
Posing as the minister, the hackers are sending a message that reads, I urgently need some amount. My UPI isn't working. I will return it by morning, can it be done? Once the recipient responds, the fraudsters follow up by demanding Rs 35,000 and send along a QR code, or scanner, to make the payment process quick and easy, hoping victims will transfer the money online without asking too many questions. Because the message originates from the minister's genuine number, several recipients may initially believe it is authentic, which is exactly what makes this scam more dangerous than a fraud attempt from a random unknown number.

Hack came amid a packed schedule
The hacking surfaced while Dr. Ajay Kumar Poddar was occupied in Kolkata with a series of programmes marking the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, alongside events tied to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to West Bengal. That his phone number was compromised right in the middle of such a busy public schedule has added to the suspicious nature of the breach.

Misuse of the minister's identity fuels unease
The misuse of Dr. Ajay Kumar Poddar's name and phone number has unsettled not just the minister but also his acquaintances and members of the public who have received the fraudulent messages. Many recipients are finding it difficult to judge whether the request for help is genuinely coming from the minister or is the work of a scammer, and that very uncertainty is what the cyber criminals appear to be exploiting.

Son Keshav Poddar's warning
As the matter escalated, the minister's son and BJP leader Keshav Poddar stepped in through social media to clarify the situation. He informed the public that his father's WhatsApp account had been hacked and that is why messages demanding money were being circulated from the number. Keshav Poddar appealed to everyone not to trust any message or demand for money that appears to come from the minister's number, and urged people not to make any payment under any circumstances. He also confirmed that necessary legal action in connection with the matter had already been initiated.

A fresh reminder about cyber safety
The episode has once again underlined how quickly cybercriminal networks can hijack a WhatsApp account, whether it belongs to an ordinary citizen or a sitting minister. Such cases are consistently followed by the advice that any unfamiliar or suspicious message asking for urgent money, particularly one involving UPI payments, should always be verified with a phone call before any transaction is made.

What this means for you
• Across India: The case is a reminder that even an urgent money request from a familiar number can be fake, so anyone should verify by phone call before sending money over UPI.
• In West Bengal: Acquaintances and members of the public are being advised not to trust any message from Ajay Kumar Poddar's number, since fraudsters are demanding up to Rs 35,000.

Questions & Answers

1. Which minister's WhatsApp account has been hacked?
West Bengal's Public Works Department and Public Health Engineering minister Dr. Ajay Kumar Poddar's WhatsApp account has been hacked.

2. When did the hacking take place?
The WhatsApp account linked to his mobile number 9434238684 was hacked on Monday.

3. How much money are the fraudsters demanding?
The fraudsters are sending fake messages demanding Rs 35,000 and are also sending a QR code for payment.

4. What does the fake message sent from the hacked account say?
The message reads, I urgently need some amount. My UPI isn't working. I will return it by morning, can it be done?

5. What did the minister's son appeal to people?
His son Keshav Poddar appealed to people not to trust any message from the minister's number or make any payment, and said legal action has already been initiated.

6. Why did this incident come to light at a busy time?
The case surfaced while the minister was occupied in Kolkata with events for Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's 125th birth anniversary and Amit Shah's West Bengal visit.

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