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NITI Aayog VC Ashok Lahiri says phone number hacked, money requests sent
Niti Aayog vice chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri said on Facebook that his personal phone number was hacked and used to send money-requests via WhatsApp. Screenshots show an impersonator asking for ₹56,000 and promising to return the funds within two hours, while Lahiri’s contacts could not reach him. DoT officials advised reporting to cybercrime portals and highlighted security gaps in WhatsApp authentication.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores cybersecurity risks for public officials and users on popular messaging apps, along with the need for improved protective measures and rapid reporting channels.
Timeline
6 Events
Context on impersonation scams on WhatsApp
May 7, 2026
The article notes such cases often involve OTP theft, phishing, or SIM-swapping and resemble typical hacked-account scams.
HT seeks comment from WhatsApp; no immediate response
May 7, 2026
HT reports it reached out to WhatsApp for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
DoT official notes lack of mandatory two-factor authentication on WhatsApp
May 7, 2026
The official states WhatsApp has not made two-factor authentication mandatory, leaving users vulnerable; explains two-step verification allows adding an email to receive a reset link to protect accounts.
DoT official: immediate response steps for cybercrime
May 7, 2026
An official from the Department of Telecommunications says the first line of defense is to report the incident on the Cybercrime portal and the WhatsApp web portal; WhatsApp typically restores the account within six to seven hours.
WhatsApp impersonation claims Lahiri requests funds
May 7, 2026
Screenshots show a person impersonating Lahiri asking for ₹56,000, claiming UPI is not working and promising to return the money within two hours; the recipient tries to call Lahiri but calls go unanswered; the impersonator shares a payment number not belonging to Lahiri.
Lahiri posts on Facebook about personal phone-number hack
May 7, 2026
Ashok Kumar Lahiri states his personal phone number has been hacked and warns recipients not to trust money requests from that number. He notes he is due to assume office on Friday, May 8, 2026.