Civil Lines: The actual owner of a company was on a flight with his mobile phone switched off when an employee received a WhatsApp call from someone claiming to be him. The caller used the owner’s photograph on the WhatsApp profile and spoke in a voice that sounded exactly like the company owner. Believing the instructions to be genuine, the employee transferred a total of ₹55 lakh through RTGS to two separate bank accounts. The fraud came to light only after the employee contacted the owner and informed him about the transaction.
According to Civil Lines resident Shivkant Tiwari, he received the WhatsApp call at around 11am on July 23, 2026. The caller identified himself as company owner Vishal Garg. The WhatsApp profile also displayed Garg’s photograph. The voice of the caller was reportedly so similar to that of the owner that Shivkant did not suspect anything unusual and followed the instructions.
₹55 Lakh Transferred to Two Bank Accounts
The caller allegedly instructed the employee to make payments related to the company by transferring money to two different bank accounts. Treating the call as an official instruction from the owner, Shivkant transferred a total of ₹55 lakh through RTGS.
At the time of the transaction, the employee had no indication that he was being targeted by cyber fraudsters. At around 2.30pm, he contacted Vishal Garg to inform him that the payment had been made.
Garg immediately denied making any such call or giving instructions for the transfer. He told the employee that he had been on a flight at the time and that his mobile phone was switched off.
It was then that the company realised that someone had allegedly impersonated the owner and used his identity to gain the employee’s confidence. The fraudsters had reportedly used both his photograph and a voice resembling his to make the communication appear genuine.
Identity Allegedly Replicated From Photograph to Voice
The incident indicates that the fraudsters allegedly prepared a convincing digital identity before approaching the employee. They used the company owner’s photograph on the WhatsApp profile and communicated using a voice that the employee believed to be identical to his employer’s.
The police will investigate how the fraudsters obtained the owner’s photograph, the employee’s WhatsApp number and other information related to the company. Investigators will also examine how the voice used during the call was created or obtained.
At present, the possibility that artificial intelligence-based technology was used to imitate the owner’s voice is only a suspicion. Its use can be established only after technical examination and investigation.
Company Owner’s Wife Files Complaint
After the fraud was discovered, company owner Vishal Garg’s wife, Geetika Garg, reported the incident through the cyber cell helpline. The complaint stated that the employee had been contacted by someone impersonating the owner and was induced to transfer ₹55 lakh to two bank accounts.
The cyber police have registered the complaint and started investigating the matter. Investigators will examine details of the two beneficiary accounts, the timing of the transfers, subsequent movement of the money and digital evidence linked to the WhatsApp call.
Money Trail Being Traced
A key priority for investigators is to determine whether the transferred money can be frozen or recovered. Police will examine what happened to the ₹55 lakh after it reached the two accounts and whether the money was withdrawn or moved to other accounts.
The WhatsApp number used by the fraudsters, the beneficiary bank accounts and other digital identifiers will also be examined. If the money was subsequently transferred through multiple accounts, investigators will trace the transaction chain to identify the people involved.
Verification Essential Before Large Payments
Cybersecurity experts caution that a person’s voice or WhatsApp profile photograph should not be treated as sufficient proof of identity, particularly when an employee receives sudden instructions to transfer a large amount of money.
Employees should independently verify such requests through another phone number, face-to-face communication or the company’s established payment approval process. An additional verification step can prevent fraud even when the caller appears to be a known person.
The case also highlights the growing risk posed by technologies capable of replicating or manipulating voices. A familiar voice can no longer be considered conclusive proof that the caller is the person they claim to be.
Cyber police station in-charge Abhay Singh said the victim’s complaint has been registered and efforts are being made to recover the defrauded amount at the earliest. Police are currently examining digital evidence, banking records and the communication channels allegedly used by the fraudsters.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
