BMC Chief Ashwini Bhide's WhatsApp Hacked

Mumbai's BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide fell victim to a cybercrime when her WhatsApp account was hacked through a fake parcel call. On Saturday afternoon, Bhide received a call from an unknown person claiming that a parcel had been booked in her name. Despite stating that she had not ordered any parcel, the caller asked her to contact a delivery person.

She was then sent a code containing 21 followed by a 10-digit mobile number and ending with #, and was instructed to dial it. Unbeknownst to her, this code activated call forwarding on her phone, redirecting incoming calls to a number controlled by the cybercriminals.

The accused then attempted to register Bhide's mobile number on WhatsApp, opting for voice-call verification instead of SMS verification. As incoming calls had already been diverted, the WhatsApp verification call was received by the cybercriminals, who obtained the verification code and used it to complete the login, taking control of Bhide's account.

After gaining access, the accused used Bhide's photograph as the WhatsApp display picture and began contacting people saved in her account. Some VIP contacts were allegedly sent messages asking for money, raising concerns that the compromised account could be used to impersonate the civic chief and target people in her contact list.

However, Bhide noticed the suspicious activity soon after the account was compromised and immediately disabled the call-forwarding service on her phone. She took steps to regain access to her WhatsApp account, preventing the alleged fraudsters from carrying out a larger financial scam using her identity.

Mumbai Police have reported similar cases involving the same call-forwarding technique, targeting other public figures such as Shiv Sena leader Shaina N.C., MP Supriya Sule, BJP leader Sambit Patra, and actress Vanita Kharat. The police suspect that the cybercrime network operates from areas along the Jharkhand-Bihar border.

The Mumbai Police have warned citizens against dialing codes such as 21 or other star-based codes when instructed to do so by unknown callers, as these codes can activate call forwarding and put accounts and services at risk.

The incident highlights the importance of being cautious when receiving calls or messages from unknown numbers, and the need for individuals to be aware of the risks associated with cybercrime.

In light of this incident, Mumbai residents are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

The Mumbai Police are taking steps to prevent such incidents and are working to raise awareness about the risks of cybercrime.

This incident serves as a reminder of the need for individuals to be proactive in protecting their personal information and to be cautious when interacting with unknown individuals or messages.