Hyderabad police warn that answering a fake bank text on WhatsApp, even with a simple 'No', could lead to money being taken from your account.
A police chief in India is warning about a WhatsApp scam that turns a simple reply into a way to lose money. Hyderabad City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar says the trick starts with a message claiming a bank transaction has already happened. If you answer 'NO' to deny it, police say you could lose money from your account.
The message looks like a routine bank notice. It says money has moved, which is meant to alarm you. Most people would want to say they did not approve it. That is the trap. Replying, even to say no, is what the scam relies on. The warning was shared publicly by the commissioner in a video.
Many of us have been taught to answer quickly when money seems to be at risk. Scammers use that instinct. The lesson here is simple: any unexpected bank message can be a trap, and replying to it may cost you money.
Anyone on WhatsApp who banks by phone could get a message like this, especially people who receive surprise notes about debits or payments. If you have not received one, there is nothing to fix today. Just know what it looks like.
The material does not explain how a reply leads to money being taken, which banks are named in the messages, or how many people have been hit. Those details have not been shared. Treat the police warning as the main guide until more is known.
The alert box above lists the steps. The short version is to leave the message unanswered, check your balance only through your bank's official channels, and report and block the sender.
If a surprise bank message shows up on WhatsApp, do not reply, even to say no. Check your account in your bank's official app instead.
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