Hacked Friend's Account Asking for Urgent Money by SMS

How it looks by SMS, the red flags and what to do.

On SMS the scammer has only a few lines to work with, so they use a deadline, a threat or a prize and a link that must be tapped "now". Hacked Friend's Account Asking for Urgent Money is one of the ways this shows up: A message from a friend's hacked or cloned profile asks for urgent UPI money. Learn how to check whether the person is really your friend.

What hacked friend's account asking for urgent money looks like by SMS

• A shortened or oddly spelled link that does not match the real website.
• A request to call a number, install an app or share an OTP.
• Several near-identical messages arriving together from different senders.

The scammer either takes over a friend's account through a stolen password or fake login page, or he makes a clone profile using public photos and the same name. He then messages the friend list. Because everything on the profile looks familiar, including old posts and mutual friends, people do not think of a trick. The first message is brief and casual, often 'busy?' or 'can you help me?'

Red flags to check on the text message

• A friend asks for money urgently by chat but refuses a voice or video call.
• The UPI name or ID belongs to someone other than your friend.
• The message is short, hurried and a little out of character.
• You are asked to keep it secret.
• It promises a refund, prize or cashback you never asked for.
• It tells you to install an app from a link instead of the official store.

What to do

1. Call your friend on his normal number before sending anything.
2. Ask a private question that only he would know.
3. Check the profile handle carefully for small differences.
4. Delete the message and tell family members who may get the same text.
5. Do not reply, do not tap the link and do not call the number in the message.
6. Open the official app or type the official website yourself to see if there is any real notice.

You can report suspicious SMS and calls on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) of the Department of Telecommunications.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 and report at cybercrime.gov.in with the UPI reference.
2. Tell your bank through its official app and note the payee name.
3. Tell your real friend so he can secure his account and warn others.
4. Save screenshots of the chat and the profile before the account is removed.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Money Shield in Safeavio Sentinel has trusted contacts and a family code word, so you can test a request by asking for the word before sending money. Paste the chat into Scam check to see the reasons it looks risky, such as urgency and a secret request. Safeavio cannot confirm whether a social media account has been hacked, and cannot get money back once sent.

Full guide: Hacked Friend's Account Asking for Urgent Money: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: social media, WhatsApp, phone call.

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