Hyderabad Police Chief’s Identity Misused in Facebook Fraud; Citizens Warned to Stay Alert

Hyderabad: In a disturbing case of online impersonation, cybercriminals created fake Facebook accounts using the name and photograph of Hyderabad City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar to deceive people. The fraudsters used these fake profiles to send messages to the Commissioner’s friends and acquaintances, claiming he was in urgent financial trouble and needed money immediately.

Commissioner Sajjanar revealed that one of his close friends fell for the scam and transferred ₹20,000, believing the request was genuine. He expressed serious concern over the rising trend of criminals misusing the identities of public officials to cheat innocent citizens.

Issuing a strong advisory, Sajjanar urged people not to trust any message asking for money—even if it appears to come from him or any well-known personality. He clarified that all such requests are fake and intended for fraud. Citizens were also advised to block suspicious links, messages, and video calls, and report them to the police without delay.

The Commissioner confirmed that he uses only one official Facebook page, and all other accounts in his name are fake. Hyderabad Cyber Crime police have contacted Meta to remove the fraudulent profiles.

Sajjanar further advised that anyone who receives a money request from an unfamiliar or suspicious account should verify it directly by calling the person. In cases of cyber fraud or suspicious activity, victims should immediately dial the helpline 1930 or file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.

He added that increased public awareness and caution are essential to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting people’s trust and hard-earned money.