A government officer in Chikkamagaluru has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime police, alleging that he was duped of ₹50,000 by an unidentified person who impersonated the Deputy Commissioner of the district on WhatsApp.

C. Yogananda, Deputy Director of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, filed the complaint on August 10, stating that he had received a WhatsApp message from a person identifying himself as the Deputy Commissioner of Chikkamagaluru. The sender’s profile picture showed a photograph of the Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner, Bhanwar Singh Meena. The accused chatted with him, enquiring about his health, and later, claiming to be busy in a meeting, asked him to transfer ₹50,000 to an account he specified.

At the time, Mr. Yogananda was in his hometown of Mandya. He went to an ICICI Bank ATM and deposited the amount into the account as instructed by the accused. When he received a similar request for another ₹50,000, he grew suspicious and contacted the Deputy Commissioner’s personal assistant to verify the chat. The PA told him that the officer had not asked anyone for money, and that similar messages had been sent to a few others as well, following which Mr. Yogananda realised he had been cheated.

Mr. Yogananda filed the complaint with the Chikkamagaluru Cyber Crime police.