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Cybercriminals allegedly siphoned off ₹33.71 lakh from an aluminium casting company in Pune’s Chinchwad area after using a fake corporate email address to get two SIM cards linked to its banking operations deactivated. The fraud involved five unauthorised transactions and has prompted a police investigation.
How Did the Fraudsters Target the Company?
According to police, the accused created an email address closely resembling the company’s official email ID. On October 30, they allegedly sent an email to a telecom service provider requesting the deactivation of two SIM cards used for the company’s banking operations.
The fraudsters also allegedly obtained duplicate SIM cards linked to the company’s bank account. The incident involved the misuse of the company’s identity to interfere with mobile connections used for financial transactions.
When Were the SIM Cards Blocked?
The company’s senior accountant informed its owner that the SIM card provided to him for official work had stopped functioning around 1 pm on October 30.
By approximately 4 pm, another SIM card used for the company’s banking transactions had also become inactive. The accountant subsequently visited the telecom company’s office in Nigdi to investigate the disruption.
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During the visit, he learned about the email requesting the deactivation of the company’s SIM cards.
How Was ₹33.71 Lakh Stolen?
Police said the fraudsters allegedly used the compromised mobile connections to gain access to the company’s banking operations. A total of ₹33.71 lakh was transferred from the firm’s bank account through five unauthorised transactions.
The money was transferred without the company’s consent. Investigators are examining the connection between the fraudulent SIM deactivation requests, the duplicate SIM cards and the subsequent banking transaction.
How Did the Company Discover the Fraud?
The incident came to light on November 1 when the company’s 51-year-old owner, a resident of Nigdi Pradhikaran, checked the firm’s current bank account. He discovered that ₹33.71 lakh had been withdrawn through five transactions.
Although the earlier SIM card disruptions had been reported internally, the owner initially did not suspect financial fraud. After identifying the unauthorised withdrawals, he contacted the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and submitted an online complaint.
Where Was the Stolen Money Transferred?
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the money had been transferred to a private bank account in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Investigators have sought further account details from the bank to examine the transactions and trace the funds.
What Legal Action Have Police Taken?
The company owner subsequently lodged a formal complaint with Nigdi police on Saturday. Police registered a case under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with cheating, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.
The investigation is focused on identifying those responsible for the fraudulent email, SIM card deactivation and unauthorised financial transfers. The case has raised concerns about the misuse of corporate identities to obtain replacement SIM cards and compromise business banking operations.
