Boudh, Aug 22: Police on Friday registered a case against allegedly creating a fake WhatsApp account in the name of district collector of Boudh, and seeking money in his name.

According to reports, a fake WhatsApp account was created using the name and photograph of District Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak.

The profile photo used was reportedly taken from inside the Collector’s office, adding a layer of authenticity to the fraudulent account.

Later, messages were sent from the fake number to several government officials and staff, requesting money under the guise of official urgency.

Some recipients, suspicious of the tone and content, directly contacted the Collector to verify the legitimacy of the messages.

Acting swiftly, a public advisory was issued across official groups and social media platforms, urging all government personnel to remain vigilant. He also recommended reporting the fake account immediately to prevent further misuse.

This is the fourth such incident in Boudh district where fraudsters have impersonated the sitting Collector to solicit money. Similar cases were reported during the tenures of former Collectors Subrat Kumar Panda and Lalatendu Mishra, with complaints previously lodged with the Cyber Cell.

Despite repeated occurrences, no arrests have been made so far.