New Delhi: Amid a surge in digital arrests and cyber fraud, a troubling new trend has emerged according to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell.
According to the sources in the IFSO, fraudsters are now impersonating CEOs, managing directors, and company owners, creating fake WhatsApp profiles to deceive accountants into transferring funds under the guise of urgent situations.
In the past ten days alone, three cases have been reported to IFSO sources told The Sunday Guardian.
The total loss in these three cases is about ₹7.1 crores.
In the first incident, a fraudster posed as the Managing Director and contacted the company’s Accounts Manager via WhatsApp. The profile picture featured the company logo, adding a layer of credibility. The fraudster pressured the manager to urgently process an advance payment of ₹1.15 crore for a “new project.” Succumbing to the pressure, the manager transferred the funds to the specified account.
In a second case, the same tactic was used against the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The impersonator, claiming to be the Managing Director, instructed the CFO to execute two transactions totaling ₹1.96 crore and ₹3 crore for a contract-related “new project.” The fraudster asserted urgency, claiming the MD was busy with government officials, and even referenced the company’s current financial status to enhance credibility.
In a similar incident, a fraudster impersonated the brother of a director from Tele-Media Pvt. Ltd. He contacted the accountant via WhatsApp, claiming to be in urgent meetings with government officials. The fraudster requested details about the company’s available funds and directed the accountant to make advance payments. The accountant transferred ₹90 lakh in two installments of ₹50 lakh and ₹40 lakh.
A senior officer, speaking anonymously, emphasized the importance of verifying unusual or urgent fund transfer requests. “Always confirm such requests physically or verbally, especially if they come via WhatsApp or similar platforms,” he advised.
“Cross-check details with a higher authority within the company before proceeding with any transfer”, he added.