The Hebbagodi Police in Bengaluru on Tuesday, 14 July registered an FIR against an unidentified person for allegedly creating a fake Facebook account impersonating M. Narayana, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the Electronic City Division, and using it to fraudulently solicit money from the officer's contacts and members of the public. The complaint was filed by DCP Narayana himself after the impersonation came to light.

How the Fraud Unfolded

According to the FIR, the accused created a fake Facebook profile under the name 'Om Singh' and operated it to pose as the senior IPS officer. Posing as DCP Narayana, the fraudster contacted people through the account and requested money on various pretexts — including, according to DCP Narayana's own public statement, claiming to sell household items at discounted prices. Investigators suspect the accused exploited the officer's identity and institutional credibility to convince victims to transfer funds.

The FIR confirms that the accused had already succeeded in collecting money from some of the DCP's friends and members of the public before the fraud was detected. The complaint includes details of the bank account, mobile numbers, and UPI ID allegedly used by the accused to receive the proceeds — all of which are now under scrutiny.

Sections Invoked and Legal Action

The Hebbagodi Police have registered the case under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The provisions cover cheating, identity theft, and cheating by personation using computer resources — a combination that signals both a criminal fraud and a cybercrime dimension to the case.

DCP Narayana's Public Warning

Taking swift action to contain the damage, DCP M. Narayana released a video on Facebook cautioning the public. 'Miscreants have created a fake Facebook account in my name, IPS NARAYANA M, and are cheating members of the public by collecting money on the pretext of selling household items at discounted prices. I have not recommended the sale of any products, nor have I shared the contact details of any individual,' he stated.

He further advised: 'The public is advised not to trust such phone calls, messages, or social media posts. Before making any financial transaction, they should verify the authenticity of the information through official channels.'

Investigation and Public Advisory

Police are now analysing the digital trail — including social media activity and financial transaction records — to determine the full scale of the fraud and identify whether additional victims exist. The Hebbagodi Police have also issued a broader public advisory urging citizens to exercise caution when receiving money requests via social media, even when the account appears to belong to a government official or police officer. Verification through official channels before any financial transaction has been strongly recommended.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to trace and apprehend the unidentified accused. This case is part of a wider pattern of impersonation frauds targeting senior officials' identities on social media platforms across India.