An accountant from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was duped of ₹3.7 crore after cyber fraudsters used the photograph of the daughter of a senior official at a major infrastructure company as the display picture of a WhatsApp account to gain his trust.
Police have registered a cyber fraud case at Jawaharnagar Police Station and launched an investigation. The fraudsters allegedly posed as the company’s director and obtained details of the company’s bank accounts from the accountant. They then instructed him to transfer money into different bank accounts, leading to the transfer of ₹3.70 crore into two separate accounts over about one-and-a-half hours.
WhatsApp Photo Used to Build Trust
The accountant received a WhatsApp message carrying the photograph of the company official’s daughter as its display picture. Believing the communication to be connected to the company’s management, he began interacting with the sender.
The fraudsters allegedly posed as the company’s director during the conversation. They obtained information about the company’s bank accounts and the balances available in them before directing the accountant to move funds to other accounts.
According to the information available, the use of the daughter’s photograph on the WhatsApp display picture helped create confidence that the communication was genuine. Acting on the instructions, the accountant shared the required information and proceeded with the transfers.
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₹3.70 Crore Sent to Two Bank Accounts
The fraudsters subsequently provided details of two bank accounts and instructed the accountant to transfer money into them. Trusting the instructions, he transferred a total of ₹3.70 crore into the two accounts.
The transfers were allegedly carried out over about one-and-a-half hours. The incident is reported to have taken place during September 14 and 15. The accountant later realised that he had been deceived and approached the police.
Jawaharnagar Police Begin Investigation
Following a complaint from the 42-year-old accountant, a cyber fraud case was registered at Jawaharnagar Police Station. Police have taken the matter seriously given the amount involved and have begun investigating the accounts into which the money was transferred.
Investigators are also working to identify and trace the accused. The case centres on the alleged impersonation of company management through WhatsApp and the subsequent transfer of ₹3.70 crore from company bank accounts.
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