Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial’s personal WhatsApp account has reportedly been hacked, and cybercriminals are allegedly using the account to send fraudulent messages to his contacts asking for money.

According to sources and initial complaints filed by Bandial, an unknown hacker gained unauthorized access to his WhatsApp account and began sending messages to various individuals posing as him and requesting financial transfers under false pretenses.

According to a news source, he noticed suspicious activity on his WhatsApp, including messages he did not send. He was informed by friends and acquaintances who received unusual requests for money from his account.

Former CJ Bandial Bandial has formally reported the breach to the FIA, stressing that the misuse of his identity may cause financial losses to others and could constitute a wider breach of privacy and personal data.

Pakistan’s cybersecurity laws classify unauthorized access to electronic accounts and extortion attempts via messaging platforms as criminal offenses.

This incident comes amid increasing reports in Pakistan of WhatsApp accounts being targeted by hackers and scammers.

Government agencies have previously warned public officials and citizens about attempts to hack mobile phones or messaging accounts using phishing and other techniques aimed at extracting sensitive information.

Cybersecurity experts advise all users to enable two‑step verification, strong passwords, and alert notifications on WhatsApp to mitigate the risk of hacking.

Security specialists emphasize that high‑profile individuals are often targeted due to the trust their names command. The public is urged to verify suspicious messages directly through phone calls or secondary channels before responding to financial requests.