A cyber fraud case has emerged from Gujarat's Morbi district where fraudsters allegedly hijacked the WhatsApp account of a woman associated with a private school's official WhatsApp group. Police said the accused cheated her relatives of ₹30,000 and later allegedly attempted to extort ₹10 lakh from one of her acquaintances by issuing death threats.
The investigation is underway to trace the individuals behind the operation and the movement of the fraudulently obtained funds.
OTP Shared During Fake School Verification Call
According to the complaint, the victim, Shilpaben, was a member of a private school's official WhatsApp group.
Between June 20 and June 29, she allegedly received a phone call from a person claiming to represent the school administration.
The caller reportedly stated that the WhatsApp group required verification and convinced her to share a One-Time Password (OTP).
Police believe the OTP enabled the fraudsters to take complete control of her WhatsApp account.
Relatives Duped Through Fake Emergency Messages
After obtaining access to the account, the accused allegedly sent messages to the woman's relatives and acquaintances claiming she required urgent financial assistance for a medical emergency.
Trusting the messages, her brother and brother-in-law transferred ₹30,000 to the bank account shared by the fraudsters.
Investigators are tracing the recipient bank account and associated UPI transactions.
Alleged ₹10 Lakh Extortion Threat
Police said the cybercriminals later contacted one of the victim's acquaintances by phone.
According to the complaint, they demanded ₹10 lakh and allegedly threatened to kill him if the payment was not made.
Following the incident, the family approached the cybercrime police, leading to the registration of a criminal case.
Digital Evidence Under Examination
Investigators are examining multiple digital evidence sources, including:
- Call Detail Records (CDRs)
- WhatsApp login history
- IP address logs
- Mobile device records
- Bank account transactions
- UPI payment trail
Police stated that if the financial trail extends beyond Gujarat, they will coordinate with cybercrime agencies in other states.
Never Share OTPs With Anyone
Authorities have reminded citizens that no legitimate organisation—including schools, banks or government departments—asks users to share OTPs over phone calls.
Users are advised to:
- Enable WhatsApp Two-Step Verification
- Never disclose OTPs
- Verify emergency fund requests independently
- Confirm payment requests through direct phone calls
- Report suspicious activity immediately to the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930)
Financial Documentation Helps During Cyber Fraud Investigations
Maintaining transaction records, UPI references and banking statements can significantly assist during cybercrime investigations.
Professional bookkeeping services in india help individuals and businesses preserve organised financial documentation, making it easier to support police investigations, banking disputes and recovery proceedings when fraud occurs.
Conclusion
The Morbi case demonstrates how cybercriminals are now exploiting trusted community platforms such as school WhatsApp groups to gain access to victims.
Simple precautions like refusing to share OTPs, enabling additional security features and independently verifying financial requests can substantially reduce the risk of becoming a victim of such scams.
Shunyatax Global Insight
Cybercriminals increasingly rely on trust rather than technology. Once they compromise a trusted communication channel such as a school WhatsApp group, victims often act without verification.
Shunyatax Global advises individuals and organisations to maintain proper digital security practices and organised financial records. Reliable bookkeeping services in india also help preserve transaction histories that can prove valuable during fraud investigations and recovery efforts.