How cyber fraud of Rs 1.9 crore was prevented by Telangana cops

Hyderabad: On Thursday, at 2:51 pm, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) received a complaint regarding a high-value cyber fraud attempt in Hyderabad.

An accounts officer at a company received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number displaying the profile picture of the company’s CMD (chairman and managing director). The sender, impersonating the CMD, claimed it was regarding a new project and requested an advance payment of Rs 1.95 crore to a specified account. Believing the request to be genuine, the officer transferred the amount at 1:02 pm.

Shortly after, the real CMD received a bank notification about the transfer and immediately inquired with the accounts officer. Upon learning that the transfer was made based on a WhatsApp message, the CMD confirmed he had not sent any such request. Realising they had fallen victim to a cyber scam, the company promptly filed a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

Upon receiving the complaint, the NCRP call centre officers identified that critical transaction details were missing, making it difficult to trace the fraud. Acting swiftly, they contacted the complainant, gathered crucial details and screenshots, and coordinated with the bank’s nodal officers.

Due to this quick intervention, the entire Rs 1.95 crore was successfully saved before the fraudsters could withdraw the amount.

Public advisory

- Be cautious of financial requests received via WhatsApp, email or phone calls, even if they appear to come from senior executives.

- Always verify payment requests directly through official communication channels before making transactions.

- If you suspect fraud, report it immediately through the 1930 cyber helpline or cybercrime.gov.in to increase the chances of fund recovery.