Inside the Scam: WhatsApp, HDFC Account, and Rs. 1.98 Crore Missing

KOLKATA/HALDIA: In response to a complex WhatsApp impersonation scam that cost Haldia Water Services Pvt. Ltd. ₹1.98 crore, the West Bengal Cyber Crime Wing acted quickly and dramatically.  Authorities secured ₹1.39 crore as a lien on the remaining funds and frozen ₹1.31 crore in the offender's HDFC Bank, Domlur branch account within 13 days of the occurrence.

On June 25, the scam started when COO Nikhil Kumar Mahanta got a WhatsApp message claiming to be from the managing director of his business.  An instant RTGS transfer to "Slamione IT Solution Pvt. Ltd." in Bengaluru was directed by the message.  With alarming quickness, the cybercrime wing located the account, arranged for a freeze, and retrieved the majority of the money before it was further lost.

SIM Providers Captured—Racket Covers Several States

Two males from Bamongola, Malda, Mantu Das and Papai Das, were detained during the inquiry for providing the SIM cards that were used to send the fraudulent texts.  These cards were discovered by investigators to be a part of a larger interstate cyber ring that aimed to pose as executives and initiate unauthorized money transactions.

 The larger network is still being investigated, even though the two detained people are in custody.  In an effort to apprehend more members and retrieve any money that may still be missing, the Cyber Crime Wing keeps examining digital evidence, following RTGS routes and WhatsApp information.

Procedures and Public Alerts
 Growing Numbers of WhatsApp Millionaire Impersonations

 Scammers frequently pose as senior executives in order to mislead victims by using pre-written urgency and threats.  In this instance, using fictitious MD credentials and business context facilitated victim compliance and the fraud's growth.

Fraud Made Possible by Sims Creates a New Regulatory Obstacle

 The attackers were able to switch identities and avoid detection by using SIM cards they had obtained.  Before starting any financial activities, authorities advise only acquiring SIMs through the appropriate KYC procedures and reporting any suspect corporate-level WhatsApp communications right away.

What Follows
 In West Bengal and elsewhere, digital forensic experts are currently identifying related cyber entities.  Authorities may charge offenders under the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and they will seek recovery of any remaining cash through court orders.  Public announcements advise companies to confirm high-value payment requests via voice or video, even if they seem verbally urgent.

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