Profile photo clone

Profile photo clone is a fake chat account that uses a relative's or boss's photo and name to ask you for urgent money.

Profile photo clone: A profile photo clone is a new WhatsApp or Telegram account that copies someone's picture and name, such as your relative, manager or friend. The scammer messages you from an unknown number saying that the old number is not working and asks for urgent help with money.

The message may say, "This is my new number, please save it." A few minutes later: "I need to pay a vendor urgently, my banking app is stuck, can you send Rs 25,000? I will return it today." The photo and name look right, which lowers your guard. The pressure and the new number are the tell-tale signs. Any request for money on a new number deserves a pause, however familiar the face.

Do not reply with money. Call the person on the old number you already have, or ask a family member to confirm. A family code word helps. Report and block the number. To limit cloning, set your own WhatsApp profile photo to be visible only to your contacts so that fewer strangers can copy it. Take a screenshot of the chat before blocking, in case you need it for a report.

Tips

• Call the person on their old, known number before sending any money.
• Agree a family code word for money requests.
• Set your profile photo visibility to "My contacts" in WhatsApp privacy settings.

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