Senior executive of Infosys scammed of Rs 3.7 crore in a sophisticated fraud

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In yet another cyber fraud case, a senior executive working with Infosys in the city was duped of Rs 3.7 crore by a gang of fraudsters posing as officials from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Mumbai Police.

According to the complaint filed with the Bengaluru police, the victim, a resident of Whitefield, received a call on November 21 where a fraudster posing as policeman alleged that a criminal case had been filed against him at Vakola police station in Mumbai.

The callers told the victim that a money laundering case tied to his Aadhaar card details has been filed with them.. The victim stated that he later got a call from a purported TRAI officer who alleged misuse of a SIM card registered in the victim's name for disseminating illegal advertisements.

The impersonator then shifted the call to someone claiming to be a senior Mumbai police officer, insisting the executive visit Mumbai and Delhi for investigations under the threat of arrest.

He stated that the cybercriminals even made a video call from a fake police station with a few men in Khaki, who even displayed their ID cards and a copy of a fake complaint.

To avoid arrest and purportedly resolve the cases, the victim was then coerced into transferring funds to multiple bank accounts between November 21 and 23.

After realising that he had been duped, the victim filed a police complaint on November 25. The Cyber Crime Police later initiated a case under the Information Technology Act and IPC sections 419 and 420.

Due to the substantial amount involved, exceeding Rs 3 crore, the case was slated for transfer to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Efforts were underway to enlist the cooperation of bank officials in freezing the miscreants' accounts.

Meanwhile, authorities have warned the general public not to respond to such calls and to promptly report them to the police after consulting with their lawyers.

Case studies reinforce vigilance

Cases like this are not isolated incidents. Earlier instances have shown how cybercriminals exploit fear and authority for illicit gains.

During and post-pandemic, a similar ruse was employed against unsuspecting victims, masquerading as law enforcement offi cials across the country.

The fraudsters coerced individuals into transferring signifi cant sums under the guise of resolving fabricated legal issues.

The chilling modus operandi of cybercriminals demands heightened awareness and preemptive measures.

Real-time monitoring emerges as an indispensable tool, offering a robust defense mechanism against such deceitful ploys.

Empowering individuals and organizations with knowledge, vigilance, and technological fortifi cation remains the cornerstone in the battle against cybercrime.