Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader and Basudevpur MLA Ashok Kumar Das on Saturday reported that he was the victim of a cyber fraud in which his WhatsApp account and mobile phone were hacked, resulting in the misuse of his number to send fraudulent money requests to his contacts.
Addressing mediapersons, Das said the incident took place in the morning while he was doing yoga at his residence, when he received a phone call from an unknown person claiming to be associated with the delivery of Assembly-related documents.
According to Das, the caller informed him that their staff was unable to trace his address and subsequently sent a link, asking him to click on it, which would help their staff locate his exact position.
“He said that if I clicked on the link, they would be able to get my address. He spoke in Hindi and said he was calling from Bhubaneswar,” Das stated.
Soon after the call, several of his contacts reportedly informed him that they had received messages from his WhatsApp number seeking financial assistance. The MLA said he was shocked to learn about the messages, clarifying that he had not sent any such requests.
“I realised something was wrong when my contacts started calling me and asking why I needed money. I had not sent any such message,” he said, adding that his phone appeared to have been compromised.
Das said he immediately approached the Cybercrime and Economic Offences Police Station in Bhubaneswar, where officials examined his device. Preliminary findings indicated that his WhatsApp account had been hacked and was temporarily under the control of cybercriminals.
He further said that cyber experts assisted him in securing and restoring access to his accounts.
Das alleged that the fraudsters had shared a malicious link, which he clicked, after which his personal data may have been accessed.
Recalling a previous incident of cyber fraud involving his bank account, the MLA said he had been more cautious about digital security but still fell victim to the latest scam.
He urged the public to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and advised people to avoid clicking on unknown links or sharing sensitive information with unidentified callers.
The MLA also said he would bring the matter to the notice of the Speaker of the Assembly and advocate for greater awareness of cyber safety among citizens.
