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Coimbatore Cyber Crime Police have arrested three men from Uttar Pradesh in connection with a ₹60 lakh WhatsApp impersonation fraud targeting a 44-year-old jewellery businessman. The fraudsters allegedly used the jeweller’s name and profile picture to deceive his accountant into transferring money from the company’s bank account.
The arrested men have been identified as Lavakesh Kumar Singha, 44, Kamal Yadav, 45, and Vinod Kumar Mishra, 55. Police said the bank accounts linked to the accused had allegedly been used in cyber fraud cases involving nearly ₹2 crore.
The incident occurred in the last week of October, when the accountant received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number appearing to belong to his employer.
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Fraudsters Impersonate Jeweller, Seek Urgent Business Payment
According to police, the fraudster contacted the accountant through WhatsApp using the jeweller’s name and profile photograph.
Believing the message was from his employer, the accountant responded to the request.
The sender claimed that ₹60 lakh was urgently required for business purposes and instructed the accountant to transfer the amount into two bank accounts.
Trusting the instructions, the accountant transferred ₹60 lakh from the company’s bank account to the accounts provided by the fraudsters.
The deception came to light when the jeweller later noticed the transaction and questioned his accountant. They subsequently realised that the payment instructions had come from an impersonator.
The businessman lodged a complaint with the Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police, who registered a case and began tracing the transferred funds.
Police Trace Fraudulent Transfers to Uttar Pradesh Bank Accounts
During the investigation, cyber police examined the bank accounts that received the ₹60 lakh and identified Lavakesh Kumar Singha and Kamal Yadav as the account holders.
Further investigation revealed that Vinod Kumar Mishra had allegedly arranged bank accounts for cyber fraudsters in exchange for commissions.
Police subsequently sent a team to Uttar Pradesh and arrested all three accused in connection with the Coimbatore case.
Investigators found that bank accounts supplied by the accused had allegedly been used to cheat victims of nearly ₹2 crore through similar cyber fraud operations.
The available report does not specify whether any portion of the ₹60 lakh transferred by the jeweller’s accountant has been recovered.
Accused Linked to Similar Fraud Cases in Multiple States
According to a senior police officer, the three arrested men have cases registered against them in three states, including Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, in connection with similar WhatsApp boss impersonation scams.
Investigators are examining the alleged use of bank accounts supplied by the accused to receive and transfer money obtained through fraudulent payment instructions.
The Coimbatore case highlights a method of cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate business owners or senior officials on WhatsApp and instruct employees to make urgent financial transfers.
In this instance, the fraudsters allegedly relied on the jeweller’s name and profile picture to convince his accountant that the payment request was genuine.
Police are continuing their investigation into the bank accounts and the alleged wider fraud network linked to the arrested men.
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.
