Hyderabad, August 31, 2026: A private charitable hospital trust in Hyderabad has reportedly fallen victim to a sophisticated WhatsApp impersonation scam, losing ₹50 lakh after an employee was allegedly tricked into believing that payment instructions had come directly from the trust’s trustee.

According to the complaint filed with police, the employee received WhatsApp messages from an unknown number displaying the trustee’s photograph. The sender reportedly asked about funds available in the trust’s bank accounts before instructing the employee to transfer ₹50 lakh to another account.

Believing the instructions were genuine, the employee submitted a request to the bank along with a cheque reference, and the money was transferred.

The fraudster then reportedly contacted the employee again and demanded an additional ₹1 crore.

The second request raised suspicion. The employee contacted the actual trustee using the trustee’s known telephone number and discovered that no such payment had been authorised.

The incident was subsequently reported to the police.

The case highlights the growing sophistication of impersonation-based cyber fraud, particularly scams that exploit familiar photographs, names and communication platforms to create a false sense of authenticity.

Cybersecurity specialists have repeatedly warned organisations to independently verify financial instructions received through messaging applications, especially when they involve large transfers.

For hospitals, charities and other institutions handling substantial funds, the incident also underscores the importance of multiple levels of financial authorisation and direct verification before executing high-value transactions.

Police are investigating the case and attempting to identify the person or group behind the fraudulent WhatsApp account.