A new WhatsApp-hijacking scam is targeting residents in Lucknow through fake courier and e-commerce delivery calls, with the city’s cybercrime cell receiving five to seven complaints about the tactic every day, according to a report by Live Hindustan – Lucknow.
The callers allegedly tell residents that a courier or online order cannot be delivered because the delivery location is incorrect. They then ask the recipient to share or confirm their location. When the recipient says that the location is already available through the phone’s Google location service, the caller reportedly claims that the company’s server is displaying it incorrectly.
The victim is then instructed to dial a special code containing star, hash and the customer’s mobile number. According to cybercrime-cell experts cited in the report, dialing the code can allow the fraudster to take control of the victim’s WhatsApp account. The report does not identify the courier or e-commerce companies whose names are allegedly being misused.
After the account is compromised, the phone owner may still be able to make calls but may not be able to receive them, the report said. The fraudster then uses the victim’s WhatsApp contact list to send messages to family members, friends and acquaintances requesting money.
The amounts sought are often relatively small, commonly around Rs 3,000 or Rs 4,000, according to the report. That can make the request appear plausible and reduce the likelihood that recipients will verify it independently. In some cases, people reportedly send money after receiving the message. Attempts to call the account holder may fail because the compromised phone is unable to receive calls.
The pattern highlights how digital fraud in cities increasingly depends on social trust as much as on technical access. A message appearing to come from a known contact can bypass the caution that people may apply to an unfamiliar number, while a delivery-related explanation uses a routine service interaction to make the request appear credible.
Live Hindustan – Lucknow reported that the cybercrime cell has prevented the suspected misuse of more than 1,000 mobile phones in the past three months by identifying attempted attacks and helping users recover or secure their WhatsApp accounts. The report also said that several people had become victims during the same period, but the precise figure was unclear in the supplied account.
Cyber experts cited by the publication advised users to check WhatsApp call-forwarding settings and reported the codes ##002# and ##67# for checking or resetting forwarding-related settings. Users who receive an unexpected delivery call or a request for money through WhatsApp should independently contact the person through another number before transferring funds. The report did not provide a separate official advisory or a statement from the courier companies allegedly impersonated.
The Lucknow cybercrime cell’s continuing response and the daily complaint volume will determine the scale of the reported scam. Residents who believe their account or money has been compromised should contact the cybercrime authorities and preserve call records, messages, payment details and phone numbers linked to the incident.
