‘It’s not me…,’ Actor Aditi Rao Hydari warns fans about impersonation scam on WhatsApp

Actor Aditi Rao Hydari has issued a public warning on social media after learning that an unknown individual has been impersonating her on WhatsApp, allegedly targeting photographers and professionals with fraudulent offers for photoshoots.

According to a statement posted on her official Instagram account on Sunday, Hydari revealed that someone is using her pictures and name to mislead others. The impostor reportedly contacted multiple people via WhatsApp, claiming to be Hydari and discussing opportunities for photoshoots, while using a personal phone number displayed as “aditi rao hydari”.

Hydari clarified to her followers that she does not use any personal number for professional communications and stressed that all her work arrangements are conducted through her official team. "It’s not me. I don’t reach out like this, and I don’t use any personal number for work. Everything always goes through my team," she stated in her post.

She urged recipients of suspicious messages not to engage with the unauthorized number or respond to the requests. The actor requested that anyone encountering similar incidents report them to her team to prevent further misuse of her identity.

The Instagram post included a screenshot showing the phone number used by the impersonator and highlighted the risks of engaging with unverified contacts on messaging platforms.

Hydari concluded by thanking her supporters for promptly bringing the matter to her attention and for their continued vigilance and protection.

This incident follows a series of similar scams affecting public figures, where impostors exploit digital platforms to conduct fraudulent activities. Authorities have cautioned the public to verify the authenticity of communications from celebrities or their representatives and to report suspicious contacts to relevant platforms or law enforcement agencies for investigation.