🎭 Cyber Impersonation Hits Close to Home: Chandigarh DSP Duped

 

Headline summary: Fraudsters in Chandigarh have created multiple fake social media profiles of DSP Lakshya Pandey—complete with doctored Aadhaar and police IDs—to solicit money under false pretexts. Some even used a counterfeit “blue tick” to seem official Impersonation methods employed

1. • Fake Facebook and Instagram profiles using DSP Pandey’s uniformed photo

   • Requests for money citing urgent reasons like a sick mother or sending a gift from the UK

   • Obscene messages sent to women damaging his reputation Why this is concerning

2. • People naturally trust verified law enforcement figures

   • Verification marks (blue ticks) lent credibility and aided deception

   • Counterfeit government IDs and Aadhaar cards gave added legitimacy

3. Official response & action

   • DSP Pandey filed a formal complaint with the Chandigarh Cyber Cell

   • An FIR has been registered under IT Act provisions, and investigations are underway 

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📉 Not an Isolated Incident: A Growing Trend

Cyber attackers are impersonating senior officials nationwide. For example:

• Fake Instagram account in the name of UP’s DGP Prashant Kumar for soliciting donations after a highway accident 

• Ram Mandir scam messaging devotees with fake QR codes and VIP offers 

Local Punjab and Chandigarh cyber cells continue to crack down on illegal call centers and cryptocurrency fraud rings 

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🛡️ Takeaways & Precautions

This episode underscores broader lessons:

1. Impersonation red flags

• Be skeptical of unsolicited messages from “official” accounts—even if they have a blue tick.

• Check account history, followers, and mutual connections.

2. Always verify

• Reach out via official channels to confirm requests claiming to be from authorities.

• Do not transfer money or scan unknown QR codes without independent verification.

3. Report immediately

• All such accounts should be reported on the platform.

• File complaints via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or local cyber cells.

4. Stay informed

• Follow trusted news outlets and official police updates.

• Share stories of fraud attempts with friends and family to raise community awareness.

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🗓️ Actionable Tips for Your Readers

• Include practical checks: verify URL, check for typos in account name, and confirm via govt sites or helplines.

• Share the official cybercrime portal (NCRP) link and helpline info.

• Advise readers to report any suspicious activity promptly to guard their finances and digital identity.

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By turning a local scam into a broader cautionary tale, your blog can empower readers with both awareness and actionable advice—helping prevent these trust-exploiting schemes from succeeding.

reff. :- timesofindia.indiatimes 

tags :- #malware  #phishing  #dataprotection  #datasecurity  #ransomware  

#cyberfraud  #cyberthreats  #onlinecrime  #privacy  #technology