Fake message victim’s kin to approach Chennai police

WhatsApp message had maligned executive

“She is devastated and gradually recovering from mental trauma”, said Sudhir N from Dombivili in Thane, Maharashtra, about his sister.

She was the victim of a malicious text with her photograph that started circulating online in mid-September. The WhatsApp message that was circulated in Chennai stated a woman was out to commit robbery after gaining access to houses under the pretext of being an LPG cylinder technician.

Speaking to

The Hindu , Mr. Sudhir added that the text was created and circulated by some miscreants who wanted to tarnish the image of his 46-year-old sister, an executive at a well-known IT firm.

Harrowing times

“The harrowing times for our family began on September 15 when a relative called and informed us that a photograph of my sister was being circulated on WhatsApp along a warning message stating that she was a con artist, posing as a sari seller. Initially, we ignored this, assuming it to be a prank,” recalled the businessman.

But things started to get out of hand after the message with the woman’s photograph went viral and spread via Facebook, much to the concern of the family members.

“Our family tried hard to spread the word against this malicious message. Now, we have come to know that it has started spreading in the south, mainly in Chennai,” said the victim’s brother, who plans to approach the Chennai City Police.

The cyber crime wing of the city police have registered a case and are probing the original message.