In what turns out to be a disturbing incident of cybercrime, renowned Kannada actor-director Upendra and his wife, actress Priyanka Upendra, became targets of online fraud.
According to recent reports, the hackers allegedly gained access to their mobile phones. The cybercriminals reportedly used the couple’s contacts to send out fraudulent messages, asking for Rs 22,000 via UPI transfers, with false promises of repayment within a few hours.
Upendra, wife Priyanka’s phones hacked for financial gains
According to a report in Free Press Journal, it began when Priyanka received a suspicious message claiming a failed delivery attempt. The message instructed her to call a number containing strange symbols, a tactic often used by scammers to trigger phone-based vulnerabilities. Unaware of the danger, she dialled the number. Upendra, too, tried calling the number shortly afterwards.Soon after, both of their phones were reportedly hacked.
Upendra warns fans against cybercrime
Realising the gravity of the situation, Upendra quickly took to social media to warn fans and the general public. “A message came to my wife Priyanka’s phone… we dialled from her phone and then from mine too. Both our phones got hacked,” he explained during a live session, urging people not to trust any financial requests coming from their numbers.
Priyanka also issued a public appeal. “My phone and Uppi’s phone have been hacked. Some people are asking for money through UPI. We appeal to everyone not to send any money. That’s not us,” she clarified.
Couple file complaint
The couple has filed a formal complaint with the police, and a cybercrime investigation is now underway. Authorities continue to warn the public about the growing number of such scams and advise extreme caution when dealing with unknown messages or phone numbers – particularly those involving financial transactions.
Upendra and Priyanka’s work fronts
Upendra remains one of the most influential figures in Kannada cinema, known for hits like Mukunda Murari, Upendra Matte Baa, I Love You, and Home Minister. Priyanka, who has acted in Kannada, Tamil, and Bengali films, was last seen in a special appearance in the 2024 Kannada release Gowri.