Pune: The number of cases of WhatsApp fraud, in which fraudsters hijack a number, mimic someone and ask their family members or friends for money, gone up sharply over the past months in Pune.

In an online scam yet again, a fraudster has allegedly duped the employee of a private company of Rs three lakh via WhatsApp fraudulent conversations. Pankajkuma Rautela, who resides in Wakad area has filed a complaint regarding this at Wakad Police Station.

WHAT HAPPENED EXACTLY

According to police, the accused had claimed to be the complainant’s friend and texted him on WhatsApp messenger. The suspect’s display picture on the WhatsApp was an image of one of the complainant’s friends. The suspect fabricated that he is facing some emergency and is in dire need of finance. He asked to help him with some amount as an assistance. The suspect also his bank account number with the complainant.

After the request, the complainant transferred Rs three lakh to the bank account of the suspect. The complainant assumed him to be his friend via an online transaction. However, he later came to know that he had been cheated and rushed to police.

The unidentified man is book under relevant sections of 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Police inspector Santosh Patil of Wakad police Station is probing the matter further.