Thiruvananthapuram, August 31, 2025 – A man who posed as Kerala police chief Sheikh Darvesh Saheb on WhatsApp and tried to cheat police officers out of money has been arrested, officials confirmed.

The accused created a fake WhatsApp profile using the state police chief’s photo and sent messages to several officers, asking for ₹40,000 under the pretext of an emergency. Suspicious officers cross-checked the request and reported it to cybercrime authorities.

Following a swift investigation, the scammer was tracked down and taken into custody. Police said he had attempted similar frauds in the past by impersonating senior officials.

Authorities have warned the public and government employees to be cautious of such scams, stressing that no senior police officer would ever ask for money over messaging apps. They also advised verifying identities before responding to unusual financial requests.

The incident highlights the growing challenge of cyber fraud in Kerala, where scammers increasingly exploit social media and messaging platforms to deceive people.