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‘Impersonating ka tarika thoda kesual hai’: Indian millionaire gets WhatsApp text from scammer pretending to be him

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma's post about a scammer left people in stitches, prompting them to share varied reactions.

Updated on: May 21, 2025, 14:21:40 IST
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Impersonation scams are nothing new but the one recently faced by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma had a plot twist. Taking to X, he shared that he received a scam message from someone pretending to be, well, himself. The irony wasn’t lost on the internet, and his post quickly triggered a wave of amused reactions.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma shared a post about a scammer on X. (PTI)
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma shared a post about a scammer on X. (PTI)

“Impersonating myself to me,” Sharma wrote and posted a screenshot. The visual shows someone asking Sharma if he is in the office and introducing themselves as Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Also Read: ‘Maan gaya main aapko’: Scammer praises girl who beats him at his own game. Watch

Take a look at the post:

How did social media react?

A third remarked, “Bas itna confidence chahiye.” A fourth commented, “Ask him what cashback you can get on Paytm UPI.” A fifth wrote, “Vijay calling Vijay,” referring to the Bollywood film Karthik Calling Karthik.

How can you protect yourself from a WhatsApp scam?

In a blog post, WhatsApp shared ways to keep oneself safe from getting scammed.

1. The first step is to pause and think. Ask yourscamself if they are rushing you, asking you to trust them, or asking for your PIN and personal details.

2. If their behaviour seems suspicious, stop the conversation. WhatsApp says, “Hang up a call or stop replying to the user. If you can’t verify the contact’s identity, do not share any personal or financial information.”

3. The third step is to block and report the contact trying to scam you. Also, make sure you always keep your privacy and security settings updated.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

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