As per the FIR, multiple WhatsApp calls and messages were received by PCMC corporators and others in Pimpri Chinchwad between the 10am on January 17 to 11am on January 18. (Representational) The Cyber crime cell of Chinchwad police are investigating a case of online fraud where people were reached through WhatsApp with a fake profile of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation(PCMC) commissioner Rajesh Patil and financial help in the from of gift cards was sought from them.
A First Information Report (FIR) in this regard was filed late on Saturday by the Information Technology (IT) department of the PCMC under Indian Penal Code provisions pertaining to cheating, impersonation forgery and relevant sections of the IT Act against unidentified cyber criminals.
As per the FIR, multiple WhatsApp calls and messages were received by PCMC corporators and others in Pimpri Chinchwad between the 10am on January 17 to 11am on January 18.
These calls were made from a number which had a profile picture and name of PCMC Commissioner Rajesh Patil.
An officer from the cyber crime said after initial contact with people through chat messages, financial help was sought for in the form of gift cards. All the receivers reported the calls to PCMC authorities.
The officer said it has come to light that three corporators and a few citizens received such calls.
Authorities have appealed to citizens and office bearers to come forward and report such calls to the cyber cell.
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