Kanpur: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Kanpur, has suffered a cyber fraud of Rs 55 lakh after cybercriminals tricked the company into transferring payment to a fraudulent bank account. The fraud came to light when HAL failed to receive the ordered fighter jet parts despite making the payment last year.
According to an FIR filed by HAL at the Cyber Police Station, the company had placed an order for aircraft parts from the American firm PS Engineering Inc. Cybercriminals, posing as representatives of the supplier, manipulated transaction details using an email ID that closely resembled the original.
How the Fraud Unfolded
HAL regularly imports aircraft parts from international suppliers. On May 3, 2024, the company requested a quotation from PS Engineering Inc. using the official email gledbetter@ps-engineering.com. The genuine supplier responded with the necessary details. However, cybercriminals, who had seemingly gained access to HAL’s communications, created a deceptive email ID—jlane@ps-enginering.com (with a minor spelling difference)—and contacted HAL officials. Impersonating the American supplier, they sent altered payment details, redirecting funds into their own account.
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Believing the communication to be legitimate, HAL officials processed the transaction, transferring $63,405 (approximately Rs 55 lakh) to the fraudulent account. The scam was discovered only when the actual supplier did not receive the payment and the ordered parts never arrived.
Investigation Underway
Suspecting a possible breach of their email system, HAL officials believe the fraudsters had access to sensitive correspondence, allowing them to time their attack perfectly. Following the discovery of the fraud, HAL Kanpur’s Additional General Manager, Ashok Kumar Singh, lodged a complaint with the Cyber Police.
Cyber Police Station in-charge Sunil Varma confirmed that an investigation is underway. Experts from IIT Kanpur have been roped in to assist in tracking down the perpetrators. “We will apprehend the culprits soon,” Varma assured. Authorities have urged organizations to be vigilant about cyber threats and implement robust cybersecurity measures to prevent such frauds.