Bengaluru, September 20, 2025: With the advancement of technology, the number of individuals misusing it is increasing day by day. Recently, actor Upendra and his wife Priyanka Upendra fell victim to cyber fraud. Their phones were hacked after being asked to call a number for a delivery, and money was siphoned off from their relatives via UPI. Now, a senior IAS officer and Principal Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, Major P. Manivannan, has also become a target of similar cyber fraud.

Scammers created fake Facebook accounts in his name to deceive his close contacts under the pretext of selling furniture. Fake Facebook Account ScamCriminals have opened not one or two but over four fake Facebook accounts using Major Manivannan’s name and photos. These accounts were used to send messages to his friends and relatives, claiming, “My friends in the CRPF are being transferred and wish to sell their household furniture. I have seen the furniture, and you can buy it if you’re interested.”

The scammers then asked victims to share their phone numbers, promising that their “friends” would contact them. This ruse has already deceived at least two people. Police Complaint FiledMajor Manivannan has lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station. The police have initiated an investigation, and Manivannan has urged them to trace the culprits and deactivate the fake accounts. This is not the first time he has faced such an issue. BENGAL HANDLOOM Exclusive Women's Cotton Silk Dhakai Allover Soft Jamdani Saree

Nine months ago, a similar scam involving fake Facebook accounts occurred, and an FIR was filed at Bengaluru’s Central Cyber Crime Police Station. However, due to a lack of action from the police, the scammers temporarily deactivated the accounts only to resume their fraudulent activities using the same tactics.Appeal to the PoliceMajor Manivannan has appealed to the police to swiftly identify the perpetrators and permanently deactivate the fake accounts to prevent further fraud.