In a startling cybercrime incident, a prominent insurance company based at Peninsula Park in Lower Parel, Mumbai, has become the target of an extortion attempt. The company received a threatening email demanding Rs 3 crore, equivalent to 4.2 Bitcoin, with the sender warning that failure to comply would result in the public release of sensitive company data. The email, which arrived a week ago, prompted immediate action from the firm, leading to a formal complaint lodged with the N.M. Joshi Marg Police.
The police have since registered a case under multiple legal provisions, including BNS Sections 308(3) and 351(2), as well as Sections 66(A) and 66 of the IT Act, reflecting the severity of the extortion and cyber offense. G. Padmakar Tripathi, a representative of the insurance company, filed the complaint on Tuesday at the N.M. Joshi Marg Police Station. The company had already initiated an internal investigation prior to approaching the authorities, providing critical details to aid the probe.
Authorities suspect that the perpetrator may have had access to confidential data, raising concerns about potential insider involvement. The N.M. Joshi Marg Police, in collaboration with cyber experts, have launched a thorough investigation to trace the origin of the email and identify the unknown sender. The cybercrime team is working diligently, analyzing digital evidence and pursuing all possible leads to crack the case.
This incident underscores the growing threat of cyber extortion targeting corporations, with criminals leveraging the anonymity of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to demand hefty ransoms. The insurance company remains on high alert as the investigation unfolds, with police optimistic about making headway soon. Further updates are anticipated as the cybercrime unit intensifies its efforts to bring the culprit to justice and prevent the leak of sensitive information.