KOLKATA/HALDIA: The West Bengal Cyber Crime Wing has made a swift and dramatic intervention following an elaborate WhatsApp impersonation scam that cost Haldia Water Services Pvt. Ltd. ₹1.98 crore. Within just 13 days of the incident, authorities froze ₹1.31 crore in the culprit’s HDFC Bank, Domlur branch account and secured ₹1.39 crore as a lien on the remaining funds .
The fraud unfolded on June 25 when COO Nikhil Kumar Mahanta received a WhatsApp message purporting to be from his company’s Managing Director. The message instructed an immediate RTGS transfer to “Slamione IT Solution Pvt. Ltd.” in Bengaluru. Operating with troubling speed, the cybercrime wing traced the account, coordinated a freeze, and recovered most funds before further dissipation .
SIM Suppliers Nabbed—Racket Spans Multiple States
During the investigation, two men, Mantu Das and Papai Das, from Bamongola, Malda, were arrested for supplying SIM cards used to initiate the scam messages. Investigators uncovered that these cards were part of a broader interstate cyber racket designed to impersonate executives and trigger unauthorised fund transfers .
While the two arrested individuals are in custody, the broader network remains under investigation. The Cyber Crime Wing continues to analyse digital trails, tracking WhatsApp metadata and RTGS pathways, aiming to arrest additional members and recover any remaining money.
Modus Operandi and Public Warnings
WhatsApp Millionaire Impersonations on the Rise
Scammers often mimic high-ranking executives, deploying scripted urgency and threats to manipulate victims. In this case, leveraging fake MD credentials and company context smoothed the progression of the fraud and victim compliance.
Sim-Enabled Fraud Means New Regulatory Challenge
Use of procured SIM cards enabled the attackers to rotate identities and evade detection. Authorities advise obtaining SIMs only through proper KYC channels and recommend immediate reporting of any suspicious corporate-level WhatsApp messages before initiating financial transactions.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
What Happens Next
Digital forensic teams are now flagging associated cyber entities across West Bengal and beyond. Authorities will pursue recovery of any residual funds via court orders and may charge perpetrators under the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Public notices warn businesses to verify high-value payment requests via voice or video confirmation, even if they appear verbally urgent.
About the Author – Sahhil Taware is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.