Fraudsters keep TS IAS officers' pictures as DPs, demand money from subordinates
Special Chief Secretary of MA&UD Arvind Kumar has asked the cybercrime police to bring the imposters to book as they were allegedly using their names to extort money from their subordinates.
By Amrutha Kosuru Published on 10 May 2022 7:02 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Top bureaucrats have approached cybercrime police against unknown imposters who tried to extort money from their subordinates. Special Chief Secretary of MA&UD Arvind Kumar has asked the cybercrime police to bring the imposters to book as they were allegedly using their names to extort money from their subordinates.
"N Satyanarayana, Director, MA & UD, and Christina Z Chongthu Secretary to Government and Commissioner of Tribal Welfare Department have filed the case," said Abhilash, Inspector at Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police Station
Earlier, Arvind Kumar took to Twitter to call out the impersonator. "Someone is sending messages from 9313411812 asking for money from my staff/others!! It's not me and please ignore any message if received," he said. The messages are being sent on whatsapp. Arvind Kumar filed a complaint after an employee at the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Agency (HMDA) had brought the issue to his notice.
Mahbubnagar Collector S Venkat Rao also took to Twitter to inform that his phone and google account was hacked. "Culprits again started with another Mobile number and asking Money. I filed a Criminal case. Please ignore any msgs you received from any new number. Please ignore the Profile pic they are using," he tweeted.
Several other IAS officers from Telangana faced a similar situation over the last month. A message requesting to deposit or send money was sent out to all district officials in various departments under the officer.
A senior official said collectors and officials from various districts outside Hyderabad (Warangal, Nirmal, Narayanpet etc.)have been impersonated in the same manner. In addition to IAS officers, several senior IPS officers, IRS officers, and other senior officials from various departments- Revenue, Health, and more have allegedly been impersonated in a similar manner.
Cases have been filed at various cyber crime police stations in the state and police said that they are working to catch the fraudsters.
