IAS Officer Reports Fake Facebook Accounts Created in His Name

Rapid Summary

• Manivannan P., Principal Secretary to the Goverment of Karnataka Social Work Department, has filed a cyber fraud complaint with Central Division Cyber Crime police.
• The complaint pertains to the misuse of his identity through multiple fake Meta (formerly Facebook) accounts created by an unknown person.
• These fake accounts used his photograph and identity to send spam messages impersonating him.
• Mr. Manivannan reported that his official Meta account was misused and subsequently deactivated for some time.
• Police have registered an FIR under Section 66 of the IT Act for computer-related offenses and were requested to trace the accused while disabling such fraudulent accounts.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Cyber frauds involving impersonation on platforms like Meta have broader implications for online security in India, especially when targeting high-profile individuals like government officials. This case underscores vulnerabilities in social media platforms’ account verification mechanisms that can lead to misuse, impacting public trust and personal reputations adversely. Policymakers may find this incident a signal for tightening cybersecurity laws and enforcement measures moving forward, especially as India navigates increasing digitization across governance systems.

Read more: Published – September 18, 2025