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Social media scams have become increasingly common, with cybercriminals frequently targeting high-profile personalities. Recently, former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar shared his own experience of encountering a WhatsApp money scam—but instead of falling for it, he managed to outsmart the fraudster.
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How Sanjay Manjrekar Outsmarted the Scammer
Manjrekar took to X (formerly Twitter) to narrate how he was approached by a fraudster posing as an acquaintance. The scammer requested ₹25,000, but sensing something suspicious, Manjrekar decided to turn the tables.
💬 “Got WhatsApp msg from an acquaintance asking for 25K. Knew his no was hacked. So replied, how do you want me to pay, Gpay ok? Promptly a no was sent asking me to send a screen shot after payment. I replied, can I please pay you 2.5 lacs? No more messages after that.”
His quick thinking left the scammer speechless and unresponsive, exposing the fraudulent attempt.
How Do WhatsApp Scams Work?
With over 500 million users in India, WhatsApp has become a hotspot for cybercriminals who employ social engineering tactics to dupe people. Here’s how these scams typically unfold:
🔹 Hacking Accounts – Scammers trick individuals into sharing OTPs, which grants them access to their WhatsApp accounts.
🔹 Impersonation – Once inside, they send urgent money requests to contacts, pretending to be a friend or family member in need.
🔹 Emotional Manipulation – Victims, seeing a known contact in distress, transfer money without verifying the request.
A 2024 survey by NDTV revealed that nearly half of India’s population has fallen victim to financial fraud in the last three years. Due to rising concerns, the Indian government has urged Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) to take stricter action against these fraudulent activities.
Stay Safe from WhatsApp Scams
To avoid falling victim to such frauds, follow these security measures:
✔️ Never share OTPs with anyone, even if the request appears to come from a trusted contact.
✔️ Verify requests by calling or messaging the sender through another platform.
✔️ Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp for added security.
✔️ Report suspicious messages to WhatsApp and block the number immediately.
Manjrekar’s witty response is a reminder to always be cautious and think twice before transferring money online—because sometimes, a scam can be stopped with just a smart reply!
