Hyderabad, Oct. 12 -- Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar on Monday warned the public about a new cyber fraud in which criminals allegedly drain victims' bank accounts by exploiting WhatsApp messages, without requiring them to share OTPs or click on suspicious links.

Explaining the modus operandi, Sajjanar said fraudsters send messages from unknown or international numbers claiming that money has been debited from the recipient's bank account. A follow-up message urges the recipient to reply "NO" if the transaction was not authorised. He cautioned that responding could expose victims to malicious software and cyberattacks, although the exact technical mechanism would depend on the case.

Citing an incident in which a chartered accou...