Archive · 27 Dec 2025
Gujarat Man Arrested for WhatsApp OTP Fraud
A man named Pritesh Prajapati from Vadodara tricked over 100 parents and staff members of a school in Nadiad by pretending to be school staff on WhatsApp.
He asked them to share their one-time passwords (OTPs) or send money for fake emergencies.
Once he got into their accounts, he sent messages asking for more money.
The police found out about this scam on December 16 and arrested him on December 26.
He is not a tech expert but used simple tricks to fool people.
He has been in trouble before for similar crimes.
The police advise everyone not to share OTPs or send money to unknown or unverified sources, even if the message seems to come from someone they know.
Pritesh Prajapati, a 28-year-old from Vadodara, was arrested for hijacking WhatsApp accounts of parents and staff of Santram School in Nadiad.
He posed as school staff and asked victims to share OTPs or transfer money for fake emergencies, looting lakhs of rupees.
The fraud was discovered on December 16, 2025, after multiple complaints of hacked accounts and money being siphoned off.
Prajapati used social engineering tactics, not sophisticated hacking, to gain access to accounts and send fraudulent messages.
He faces 14 criminal cases, including 10 related to cyber fraud, and was previously detained under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act.
- Who
- Pritesh Prajapati, a 28-year-old man from Vadodara
- What
- Hijacked WhatsApp accounts and looted money from parents and staff of Santram School
- When
- The fraud came to light on December 16, 2025; arrested on December 26, 2025
- Where
- Nadiad, India
- Why
- To gain money under false pretenses, citing emergencies and school-related expenses
- Location
- Nadiad, India
- Accused
- Pritesh Prajapati
- Victims
- More than 100 parents and staff members
- Modus Operandi
- Social engineering, posing as school staff
- Amount Stolen
- Lakhs of rupees
- Arrest Date
- December 26, 2025
- Previous Cases
- 14 criminal cases, including 10 related to cyber fraud
- Education
- Studied up to Class 11
