Cyber Crime
UK Company’s Email Hacked to Defraud Noida-Based German Firm of Rs 1.55 Crore
NOIDA: A sophisticated cyber fraud has targeted the Noida branch of Germany’s Bartec Private Limited, leading to a loss of Rs 1.55 crore. Hackers infiltrated the email system of the company’s UK supplier, Messrs PSC Vodex Limited, and altered payment details to redirect funds to fraudulent accounts.
Bartec, located in Sector-62, deals in electrical, electronics, and telecommunications products and conducts extensive international trade. During a routine transaction, cybercriminals exploited the supplier’s compromised email to send fraudulent messages that appeared legitimate. These emails mirrored the original format and requested payment to altered bank accounts.
ALSO READ: Nominate Top Cyber Journalists for FutureCrime Summit 2025 Awards
The fraud was discovered on December 12, 2024, when the UK supplier issued a payment reminder, prompting Bartec to verify the transaction. Realizing the deception, the company reported the incident to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cybercrime portal, and an FIR was filed at the Cyber Crime Police Station.
Authorities believe an international cybercrime syndicate orchestrated the attack, as similar cases involving email-based fraud have been reported recently.
Rs 60 Lakh Duped in Share Market Investment Scam
In another incident, cybercriminals defrauded Rs 60.43 lakh from a man and his relatives in Noida by promising lucrative stock market returns.
Adarsh Sharma, a resident of Sector-99, reported the scam to the Cyber Crime Police Station. The fraudsters, posing as stock market analysts, added him to a professional-looking WhatsApp group offering investment advice and trading tips. Convinced by promises of high returns, Adarsh and his relatives invested significant amounts, only to discover the scheme was a sham.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for vigilance in financial transactions and heightened awareness of evolving cybercrime tactics.
