Dehradun: In a disturbing example of digital impersonation, a fraudster allegedly used the photograph of senior IAS officer Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram, Principal Secretary in the Uttarakhand government, on WhatsApp to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals – including members of the public and even government officials.
The case has sparked concern over the growing trend of impersonation scams targeting top bureaucrats and leveraging their official status to exploit others financially.
WhatsApp Impersonation Raises Alarm in Bureaucratic Circles
2001 batch IAS officer of Uttarakhand cadre, Dr Sundaram filed a formal complaint with Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, after learning that an unknown individual had uploaded his photograph as a display picture (DP) on WhatsApp and was posing as him to seek money.
In his statement, Dr Sundaram said, “Some unknown person was using my photograph on his WhatsApp profile and asking for money from the public and other government officials.”
The impersonation was not only unethical and illegal but posed a serious threat to the credibility and safety of digital communications involving high-ranking officials.
Police Launch Investigation to Trace Impersonator
Acting swiftly on the complaint, Dehradun police launched an investigation into the matter. Preliminary findings have confirmed that an unidentified person had indeed misused Dr. Sundaram’s photograph and identity for fraudulent activities.
Police are now working on tracing the origins of the fake WhatsApp number and identifying the device used. Authorities have assured the public that they are taking the matter seriously and that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the accused at the earliest.
Growing Concern Over Impersonation of Bureaucrats
This is not the first time a senior government official has been targeted in such a scam. Over recent months, several IAS and IPS officers across the country have faced similar impersonation attempts. Fraudsters often use these false identities to pressure victims into transferring money or sharing confidential information.
Law enforcement agencies have urged the public and officials to remain vigilant, verify all suspicious communications, and report any such cases immediately.
