Bhubaneswar: An alert was sounded in Odisha on Wednesday following reports of fraudsters impersonating Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo to extort money from unsuspecting individuals.

According to the I&PR department, a case has been registered at Cyber Crime police station here in connection with the fraud. The imposters are reportedly using the mobile number 7377352449 to defraud people by posing as the Deputy CM or his representatives.

The official note further stated that KV has ordered for immediate arrest of the accused. “If you receive a call from this number attempting to defame, blackmail, or harass you, immediately inform police and visit your local police station to file a complaint. Such activities will not be tolerated,” it said.

The advisory also cautioned the public against making any payments to unknown individuals without thorough verification. People advised to stay alert, avoid sharing personal or financial details over unsolicited calls, and rely solely on verified government communications.

Incidentally, two men were arrested in Patnagarh in November 2024, for allegedly duping job aspirants of Rs 2.10 lakh by claiming to be officers on special duty for the Deputy CM. Another fraudster was arrested in June 2025 for allegedly impersonating as a staff of the chief minister’s office (CMO) and extorting Rs 2 lakh from a government official by threatening to transfer him to Malkangiri district.