In a bold cybercrime incident that has raised serious security concerns, fraudsters have created a fake Facebook account impersonating Mangaluru's top police official, Commissioner Anupam Agrawal. The sophisticated impersonation attempt has triggered an immediate response from law enforcement agencies across Karnataka.
The fake profile, which closely mimicked the Commissioner's official identity, was discovered during routine monitoring by the police cyber cell. Authorities confirmed that the account was being used to potentially deceive citizens and extract sensitive information under the guise of official police communication.
Immediate Police Response and Public Warning
Mangaluru City Police swiftly issued an official statement clarifying that Commissioner Anupam Agrawal does not maintain any personal Facebook account. The public has been urgently advised not to interact with or share any personal information through the fraudulent profile.
Police officials emphasized that the fake account represents a serious cybersecurity threat, as criminals often use such impersonation tactics to gain trust and manipulate victims into sharing financial details or other confidential data.
Growing Trend of Authority Figure Impersonation
This incident is part of an alarming pattern where cybercriminals are increasingly targeting government officials and authority figures to lend credibility to their scams. The impersonation of police officials is particularly dangerous as it exploits public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Similar cases have been reported across India, with fraudsters creating fake profiles of district collectors, senior police officers, and even judges to perpetrate various types of online fraud.
Protection Measures and Public Advisory
Cybercrime experts recommend several precautionary measures:
- Verify official social media accounts through government websites
- Never share personal or financial information through social media platforms
- Report suspicious accounts to platform administrators immediately
- Contact local police cyber cells to confirm authenticity of suspicious profiles
The Mangaluru Police have initiated a formal investigation to identify and apprehend the individuals behind this impersonation attempt. They are coordinating with Facebook's security team to have the fraudulent account permanently removed from the platform.
