The Cyber Crimes Police of Hyderabad have issued a warning to citizens about a rising trend of "accident and impersonation scams" being carried out through WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
In a recent case, a 61-year-old woman from Hyderabad lost Rs 35.23 lakh after being duped by a fraudster posing as a doctor from London.
The victim reportedly received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be Dr Steve Rodriguez, a urologist at South Manchester General Hospital, who falsely informed her that her son had met with a serious accident at the London airport and required urgent medical treatment.
Panicked and believing the story, the woman transferred the money in multiple transactions between August 8 and September 18, 2025. She later realized that she had been deceived when the alleged doctor's WhatsApp account was deleted.
The Cyber Crimes Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant while responding to distress messages or calls on the social media, especially those involving requests for money. The police said that verifying such claims through official channels was essential before making any financial transfers.