A senior pharmaceutical official in Kolkata was duped of ₹1.1 crore in a cyber fraud involving forged emails, fake websites, and false promises of kola nut trade. The two-week digital deception used international and Indian phone numbers, mimicked a top UK firm, and highlights the growing trend of “business opportunity” cyber scams targeting professionals.
A Digital Mirage: How the Kola Nut Trap Was Set
In a calculated case of cyber deception, a senior executive from a Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company has become the latest victim of a global-style scam that blended identity fraud, digital impersonation, and a fabricated business pitch around kola nut trading—a botanical widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Hiland Willows in Newtown, received an email on May 1 that appeared to come from a well-known UK-based pharmaceutical company. The message outlined a seemingly lucrative opportunity to invest in the import of kola nuts. The fraudsters had gone so far as to create a fake website using the UK company’s branding, lending credibility to their outreach.
Trust, once seeded, grew quickly.
Two Weeks to ₹1.1 Crore: From Emails to Bank Transfers
After the initial email exchange, the fraudsters shifted the conversation to WhatsApp using international numbers. They introduced the victim, identified as Mr. Guha, to purported suppliers based in Northeast India. These “suppliers” contacted him via local Indian phone numbers to avoid suspicion and presented themselves as part of a trusted domestic chain.
To build Guha’s trust, the fraudsters even delivered small samples of kola nuts—either authentic or cleverly substituted—which convinced him the opportunity was real.
Gradually, Guha made transfers to multiple bank accounts, totaling over ₹1.1 crore. The funds were dispersed across various accounts before he realized he had been deceived. By then, the fraudsters had disappeared, and the bank trail had grown cold.
Forged Brands and Digital Disguises: A Growing Cybercrime Pattern
Police believe this is part of a larger, transnational cyber fraud network that specializes in impersonating real companies and setting up false trade deals to lure unsuspecting professionals into financial traps. The fact that kola nuts—a niche but legitimate commodity in the pharmaceutical world—were chosen speaks to the specificity and planning involved in the scam.
Officials are now working to trace the bank accounts and digital footprints left behind, though recovery of the funds remains uncertain.
Cybersecurity experts say this case underlines a dangerous trend: criminals exploiting niche knowledge and industry-specific trust to engineer financial fraud. “This isn’t your average phishing scam. This is targeted social engineering tailored for high-trust B2B settings,” said a cybercrime consultant familiar with such cases.
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A Hard Lesson in Soft Trust
The scam has raised alarms not just in Kolkata’s business circles but also across India’s growing pharmaceutical and export sectors, which are increasingly conducting business online post-COVID.
Law enforcement agencies have urged professionals to verify credentials through official channels, avoid acting on unsolicited digital offers, and report suspicious emails to cybercrime units immediately.
Investigations are ongoing, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of international involvement. A formal cybercrime case has been filed and authorities are coordinating with banking institutions to try and track the money trail.