When Scammers Get Too Bold: Vijay Shekhar Sharma Targeted by Someone Pretending to Be… Vijay Shekhar Sharma In a twist so ironic it sounds made up, Paytm CEO
In a twist so ironic it sounds made up, Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has revealed he received a scam message from someone pretending to be himself. Yes, you read that right. A scammer tried to impersonate Vijay Shekhar Sharma — and sent the scam directly to the real Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sharma shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation that left followers both amused and concerned. The message came from a scammer claiming to be “Vijay Shekhar Sharma” and began with a casual query:
“Are you in the company now?”
As bizarre as the situation is, it underscores a much larger problem in India’s digital ecosystem — the rising sophistication (and absurdity) of impersonation scams. If even one of the country’s most high-profile tech CEOs is being targeted, what does it say about the security of the average smartphone user?
Sharma responded to the incident with humor, calling it out as:
“Impersonating myself to me.”
But underneath the wit is a warning: no one is safe from digital scams — not even the person being impersonated.
While Sharma’s case might seem humorous at first glance, it reflects the growing threat of online identity fraud, especially via popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Scammers often pose as company executives, colleagues, or even relatives, tricking victims into sharing sensitive information or transferring money. What’s concerning is how realistic and well-timed these impersonation messages have become.
In many cases, victims fall for such scams because:
In this case, the only difference was the scammer accidentally messaged the actual person they were trying to impersonate.
CEO impersonation scams aren’t new. They’ve been on the rise globally, with fraudsters targeting employees, customers, and even vendors by pretending to be high-level executives. The goal is typically one of three things:
The Paytm CEO’s experience is a comedic reminder of how bad actors are getting bold — but it’s also a serious wake-up call. If a scammer didn’t realize they were texting the real Vijay Shekhar Sharma, it’s likely they were casting a wide net, hoping to trick someone else using the same name.
If you get a message from someone claiming to be a CEO or senior leader, don’t respond immediately. Call them directly or verify their number through official channels.
Many scammers use slightly off grammar or phrasing. For example, “Are you in the company now?” feels robotic or translated — a possible red flag.
Don’t click on links or download files sent by unknown or suspicious contacts, even if they claim to be someone you know.
Report impersonation attempts on WhatsApp and other platforms immediately. Block the number so they can’t try again.
While Sharma handled the situation with characteristic humor and grace, his experience highlights a real threat in the digital world. Even as India grows more connected, it also becomes a bigger target for cyber fraud, impersonation, and digital scams.
So the next time you get a message from someone important — even if it’s yourself — double-check before you reply.
