Scammer tries to fool Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma by pretending to be... Paytm CEO? Here's how you can avoid such scams
In a plot twist straight out of a cyber-thriller, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma recently found himself on the receiving end of a WhatsApp scam, by none other than a fraudster impersonating him. Yes, you read that right: a scammer posing as the CEO of one of India's leading fintech companies tried to trick the man himself.
Sharma took to X (formerly Twitter) to share screenshots of the conversation, where the impersonator introduced himself as "Vijay Shekhar Sharma" and inquired if the real Sharma was in the office. The audacity of the scammer attempting to deceive the very person they were impersonating left netizens both amused and astounded.
Impersonating myself to me 🥸 pic.twitter.com/OtT63fKZU1
How did the scammer try to scam Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma by being himself?
In the messages, the fraudster requested that Sharma "check and report back" on the company's available funds and demanded the contact details of Paytm's finance head. They also asked him to forward an executable (.exe) file, disguised as a GST-related document, to the concerned person.
Despite the potentially serious nature of the scam, no harm was caused. Sharma appeared to take the incident in stride, choosing instead to spotlight it with a dose of humour. By doing so, he not only drew attention to the pervasiveness of such frauds but also emphasised that even CEOs are not immune to digital trickery involving fake profiles, malicious links, and social engineering.
https://t.co/YUmOr6mtGa https://t.co/D2V9bZfHrl
This incident coincided with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launching the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), a tool designed to enable advanced intelligence sharing among banks, UPI service providers, and financial institutions to counter financial fraud.
VSS to VSS… pic.twitter.com/0zIMtX7mw5
How to protect yourself from scammers:
Verify independently: Always confirm requests for money or sensitive information through a different channel, even if they seem to come from known contacts.
Be wary of urgency: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency. Take a moment to think critically about any urgent requests.
Check profile pictures and status: Scammers may use stolen profile pictures. Check if the status and other details match what you know about the person.
Never share OTPs: Legitimate organizations will never ask for your OTP (One Time Password) over WhatsApp or any other means.
Use two-factor authentication: Enable WhatsApp's two-step verification feature to add an extra layer of security to your account.
While this incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud, it also serves as a reminder that vigilance and awareness are key to protecting oneself from such scams.
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