Fake Companion Ads Trigger Cybercrime Warning in Hyderabad Hyderabad, August 11, 2026: Hyderabad Police have cautioned women and young social media users against responding to fake companion-service advertisements. The warning follows the circulation of posts offering “boyfriends for rent” through Instagram, Facebook and Telegram. Hyderabad City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar highlighted the scam in a post on X. According to the warning, fraudsters publish professionally designed advertisements featuring attractive men and offers for coffee dates, shopping trips, movie outings and other forms of companionship. The profiles and photographs used in these promotions may not be genuine. Some images could be created using artificial intelligence, while others may be copied from legitimate accounts without the owners’ knowledge. Fake bookings used to collect payments After a user contacts one of the advertised accounts, the operator starts a friendly conversation and presents different service packages. This interaction is intended to build trust and make the offer appear legitimate. The scammer then asks the user to pay a registration charge, refundable security deposit or advance booking fee. Payment requests are commonly sent through QR codes or digital payment applications. Once the victim authorises the transaction, the account may stop responding or block further communication. In some cases, the information collected during the conversation could be used for additional fraud attempts. Police warned users not to share personal photographs, phone numbers, home addresses or identification documents with unknown profiles. Such information can expose victims to identity theft, harassment, blackmail and threats. Agreeing to meet an unverified person can also create physical safety concerns. Reporting suspicious accounts and financial fraud Users should verify an account before starting a conversation or making a payment. Newly created profiles, copied photographs, unrealistic discounts, urgent payment demands and requests for secrecy are common warning signs. Before authorising any digital transaction, users should confirm the recipient’s name, payment amount and purpose. Scanning a QR code and entering a UPI PIN generally authorises a payment; it is not required to receive money. People who discover suspicious companion advertisements should save screenshots, account names, profile links, telephone numbers and payment details. The material can be submitted while filing a cybercrime complaint. Anyone who loses money should immediately contact the bank or payment provider and call the national cybercrime helpline at 1930. Complaints can also be filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Rapid reporting may help authorities trace the transaction or freeze the transferred funds before they are moved elsewhere.

A parliamentary panel has given Meta three days to respond over the temporary removal of PM Modi’s Facebook video and sought an unconditional apology from Mark Zuckerberg. The panel has also warned that Meta’s safe harbour protection could be reviewed if the company fails to provide a satisfactory response. Meta Gets 3-Day Deadline as Panel Seeks Zuckerberg Apology New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has increased pressure on Meta af

Naidu Alleges Funded Social Media Campaign Against Him, Pawan Kalyan Tirupati, July 6: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has alleged that some social media platforms are being funded to target him and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan through false propaganda against the coalition government. Speaking to the media during the third day of his Kuppam tour on Sunday, Naidu said the opposition was trying to claim credit for projects being im

Govt To Summon Meta Officials Over Instagram CSAM Ads Allegations The Central government is set to summon Meta officials after allegations surfaced that Instagram carried paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. The issue has raised serious questions over the platform’s ad moderation system and online child safety measures. According to the report, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials of the Ministry of E

WhatsApp Username Rollout Paused In India Over Cyber Fraud Concerns India has asked Meta to pause the rollout of WhatsApp’s proposed username feature in the country, raising concerns over privacy, impersonation, and possible cyber-fraud risks. The government has reportedly sought a detailed explanation from Meta within three days and asked the company not to proceed with the feature until consultations are completed. What Is WhatsApp

Rahul Ravindran Deletes X After Death Threats Against His Children Director-actor Rahul Ravindran has deleted X after receiving abusive messages and death threats aimed at his children. The online backlash reportedly began during a debate linked to the Ketan Agarwal case, after Rahul responded to a user who questioned him about making a film on “atrocities against men.” Rahul’s response, in which he spoke about society being patriarchal, triggered

Young actor Akhil Raj Uddemari, known for Raju Weds Rambai, has issued a clarification after a dispute with a food delivery person went viral on social media. Akhil Raj Responds To Viral Controversy Young Telugu actor Akhil Raj Uddemari has responded to the controversy surrounding a dispute between him and a food delivery person. The incident went viral on social media, with several users commentin

WhatsApp Username Feature: How To Reserve Your Name Without Sharing Phone Number WhatsApp is preparing a major privacy update that will allow users to chat without sharing their phone numbers. The Meta-owned messaging platform has started allowing users to reserve unique usernames before the feature is rolled out more widely later this year. Until now, WhatsApp conversations have largely depended on phone numbers. Anyone who had a user’s mobile number

Former India cricket captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has approached the police in Kolkata over alleged defamatory and misleading posts circulated on social media. Ganguly filed the complaint on Monday, June 15, 2026, alleging that a Facebook page with millions of followers had been sharing content aimed at damaging his reputation. The complaint was submitted at Thakurpukur Police Station.

Aishwarya Rai’s No Social Media Rule For Aaradhya Offers Parenting Lessons In today’s digital world, many children get access to smartphones and social media at a very young age. But Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s parenting approach with her daughter Aaradhya has brought attention back to a simple question: Should children be kept away from social media until they are ready? Aishwarya has reportedly clarified that Aaradhya is not on social media, despite

Malaysia’s New Social Media Rule For Children Explained Malaysia’s new rule bars children under 16 from creating social media accounts, raising debate over child safety, privacy and age checks. Malaysia has introduced new online safety rules that stop children below 16 from registering fresh social media accounts. The rule came into effect on June 1, 2026, making Malaysia one of the latest countries to tighten teen access to platforms such as Faceboo

Rare aerial view of India-Pakistan border glowing at night draws reactions online An IndiGo pilot’s online footage showing the India-Pakistan border glowing at night has caught public attention, offering a rare aerial view of one of the world’s most sensitive borders. Rare View From Night Flight A night-time aer

CJP Returns On X After Original Handle Is Withheld In India CJP Returns With New X Account The Cockroach Janta Party returned to X with a new account just hours after its original handle was withheld in India. The move quickly went viral as the satire-led group posted messages mocking critics and linked the block to its fast-growing popularity online. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also reacted to the development and said the action was expected.

Vijay Meeting Video Sparks Debate Over Social Media Use In Governance   Viral Clip Raises Questions A video circulating on X has sparked debate after showing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay meeting with disability rights representatives at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai. The clip gained attention online as users discussed whether official meetings should be recorded and shared in a reel-style format. The video of

Universal Star Kamal Haasan’s simple travel choice has become a strong talking point, as fans and industry observers praise his commitment, humility, and responsibility toward cinema. Kamal Haasan Wins Praise For His Simplicity Universal Star Kamal Haasan has once again become a source of inspiration with a thoughtful decision that is receiving wide appreciation on social media. At a time when the film industry is facing several challe