Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Fake Parcel Call Allegedly Hijacks BMC Chief’s WhatsApp
A scammer called Ashwini Bhide and pretended that a parcel had been sent to her.
The caller then told her to dial a special phone code.
That code secretly sent her incoming calls to the scammers’ phone.
The scammers used this trick to receive WhatsApp’s verification call.
They then took control of her WhatsApp account.
They used her photo and contacted people in her address book.
Some people were reportedly asked to send money.
Bhide acted quickly, stopped the call forwarding, and regained control of the account.
Police are warning everyone not to dial unusual codes given by strangers.
Mumbai Police said a fake parcel call allegedly tricked Ashwini Bhide into dialing a call-forwarding code.
The code redirected incoming calls, allowing scammers to intercept WhatsApp’s voice-verification call.
The alleged attackers took over Bhide’s account and contacted people using her photograph and identity.
Some VIP contacts reportedly received requests for money before Bhide disabled call forwarding and recovered access.
Police warned people not to dial star-based codes from unknown callers and linked similar attempts to other public figures.
- Who
- BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide was targeted, according to Mumbai Police.
- What
- Cybercriminals allegedly used call forwarding to take control of her WhatsApp account and contact her saved contacts.
- When
- The initial fake parcel call reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon; Bhide noticed the suspicious activity soon afterward.
- Where
- The incident involved Bhide’s mobile number and WhatsApp account in Mumbai; police suspect the network operates near the Jharkhand-Bihar border.
- Why
- The alleged attackers appear to have sought access to Bhide’s identity and contacts, including to request money from some VIP contacts.
- Target
- Ashwini Bhide, BMC Commissioner
- Initial tactic
- A caller falsely claimed that a parcel had been booked in Bhide’s name.
- Phone code
- The code reportedly began with 21, included a 10-digit mobile number, and ended with #.
- Account access
- Scammers allegedly selected WhatsApp voice verification after activating call forwarding.
- Impersonation
- The compromised account used Bhide’s photograph and sent messages to contacts.
- Response
- Bhide disabled call forwarding and took steps to regain her WhatsApp access.
- Police warning
- Citizens were advised not to dial star-based codes supplied by unknown callers.