Chennai cybercrime police recovered Rs 2 crore lost to email spoofing scam by swiftly coordinating with global banks. Authorities advise caution with suspicious emails to prevent similar scams.

The scammers who defrauded a businessman of Rs 2 crore by sending a counterfeit email to their company’s bank account to pay for their trading have been found by cybercrime police.

Cybercriminals trick victims into making unauthorized payments by intercepting or mimicking official company communications.

The entire amount was returned to the complainant’s bank account by the state cybercrime wing team as a result of the cybercrime officers’ prompt action.

What exactly happened?

According to the police, a bogus email from kunal1113@gmail.com was sent to the private company Agrigo Trading Private Limited in Chennai. Since the email was a part of a chain, the general manager of the company replied.

The proforma invoice and banking information for the payment of US dollars 238,500 (Rs 2, 00,10,150) to be deposited at Regions Bank, USA, were included in the letter.

On September 26, the manager made the NEFT payment via State Bank of India, Leather International Branch, Chennai, believing it to be authentic because it was connected to an earlier email exchange with the original supplier asking for a proforma invoice for payment of the amount for a business deal.

It was found that the email was false and that the complainant had been defrauded when they followed up with the provider on September 27.

Following Cr.No. 57/2024, u/s 318(4) of BNS 2023 & 66, 66C, 66D of IT Act 2000, the victim submitted a report through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and a case was opened at the State Cyber Crime Investigation Center.

The State Bank of India, Chennai’s Leather International Branch, received requests to track down the misplaced sum. The money had been credited to Regions Bank’s account in the United States, according to confirmation from the State Bank of India.

It was verified that the full amount was returned and credited to the complainant’s account as a result of the team’s sincere efforts to coordinate with the I4C, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Regions Bank, USA.

This instance emphasizes how crucial it is to confirm the legitimacy of emails, particularly when significant financial transactions are at stake. This kind of fraud takes advantage of people’s confidence and can cost companies a lot of money. You must respond right away if you believe you have been the victim of similar fraudulent activities or if you have discovered any questionable activity. Call the Cyber Crime Toll-free Helpline at “1930” to report the occurrence, or file a complaint online at “www.cybercrime.gov.in.”

Advisory to citizens for cyber safety:

• Pay close attention to the sender’s address: Phishers frequently produce phoney email addresses that resemble real ones almost exactly, with a few minor variations.
• Check for unusual language: An email may be fake if it has strange wording, poor grammar, or spelling errors.
• Look out for demands that seem suspicious or urgent: If the email requests that you do something right away, such as transferring money, changing your password, or verifying your account, proceed with caution.
• Examine links before clicking: To view the URL, move your mouse pointer over any links in the email without clicking. Do not click if anything appears suspicious.
• Notify the impersonated organization: Report the scam to the security staff of the firm or entity that the fake email purports to originate from.
• Get rid of the email: Once the suspicious mail has been reported, remove it from both your inbox and trash folder.