Cybercrime is becoming more common these days, with scamsters finding new ways to trick people into sharing personal information or transferring money. From fake emails, and fake delivery messages to UPI scams, no one is safe, not even celebrities. Earlier today, popular Kannada actor and director Upendra Rao, famously known as ‘Real Star,’ and his wife Priyanka Upendra became the latest victims of a cyber attack.
How did the hack happen?
On Monday morning, September 15, 2025, Priyanka received a suspicious message claiming her online order could not be delivered. The message asked her to type a code filled with special characters and letters to get the package. “A message came to my wife Priyanka’s phone, we dialled from Priyanka’s phone and then from mine too, and both our phones got hacked,” Upendra revealed in a video post on X.
Beware… pic.twitter.com/ftbQDFodTf
— Upendra (@nimmaupendra) September 15, 2025
Hackers demand money through UPI
Once their phones were hacked, scamsters reportedly sent messages to the couple’s contacts, demanding Rs 22,000 through UPI transfers and promising to return the money within a few hours. Upendra went live on social media, warning fans, actors, producers, and directors not to respond to any messages or calls asking for money from his phone number.
Priyanka also made a public appeal saying, “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.”
Police complaint filed
The couple has already filed a formal complaint with the cybercrime police station. They are working to secure their devices and accounts while alerting people about this growing threat.
Tips to stay safe online
With the continuous increase in cybercrime, it is very important to stay aware about the scams to keep yourself and your finances safe. Cybersecurity experts, and tech security firms, advise users to be careful with messages or calls from unknown sources. Avoid sharing OTPs, banking details, or personal information, even if the sender claims to be from a bank, government department, or e-commerce company. With online scams on the rise, being alert, cautious, and informed is the best way to protect personal information and finances from falling into the wrong hands.