Fake Email Fraud Uncovered After Hospital Payment Delay
A former employee of a private hospital in Noida has been accused of orchestrating a sophisticated email fraud to siphon off ₹75 lakh from the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) into his personal bank account. The fraud came to light when the hospital raised concerns over a delayed payment expected from the civic body.
According to official sources, the accused used forged email communications to impersonate authorized representatives of the hospital. He contacted MCD officials through a fake domain closely resembling the hospital’s original email address and convinced them to transfer the funds to a bank account he had access to. The payment was part of a legitimate invoice raised for services rendered by the hospital to the municipal corporation.
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The scam reportedly remained undetected until the hospital followed up on the unpaid dues. A cross-verification with MCD’s finance department revealed that the amount had already been disbursed—just not to the hospital’s official account.
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Investigation Initiated; Cybercrime Cell on the Case
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the matter. A case has been registered under charges related to criminal breach of trust, cheating, and cyber fraud. The Delhi Police Cybercrime Cell is handling the probe and is reportedly analyzing email headers, IP addresses, and digital trails to identify all parties involved in the crime.
The suspect, whose identity has not been fully disclosed, had resigned from the hospital before the fraud was detected. Investigators suspect the crime was premeditated and might have involved knowledge of internal billing and payment processes.
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Delhi MCD officials have stated that steps are being taken to strengthen verification protocols for financial transactions and to ensure email authenticity before fund transfers. Meanwhile, the hospital management has called for stringent punishment, emphasizing the need to restore faith in institutional financial dealings.
The incident has once again highlighted the increasing sophistication of email-based financial frauds and the urgent need for robust cybersecurity practices across private and public sector entities.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal 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.