Mumbai, November 28: Fraudsters posing as the "director" of a Mumbai-based shipping company tricked a senior manager into transferring INR 95 lakh from the firm's account. The scam occurred on October 22 when the manager received a WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be the director and requesting a transfer for an urgent project. Believing the request was legitimate, the manager completed the transaction without verifying the details. It was only later, after contacting his senior, that he realized he had been duped. A case has been registered with the Mumbai Police’s Cyber Crime Unit for further investigation.

The fraud came to light when the senior manager, employed at the shipping company in Nariman Point, Mumbai, received a message from an unknown number posing as the company's director. The message asked the manager to save the number as the director's new contact. The scammer then followed up at 10 AM the same day, requesting the manager to check the company's bank balance and transfer INR 95 lakh to an account for an "urgent project." Believing the request was genuine, the manager complied with the instructions without further verification, as reported by the Indian Express. 'Share Market Scam' in Mumbai: Doctor Loses Over Rs 7 Lakh After Watching Deepfake Reel of Mukesh Ambani on Instagram Regarding Investment, Case Registered.

According to the police, the manager grew suspicious only after the transaction was completed. Upon contacting his actual senior to confirm the legitimacy of the transfer, the fraud was uncovered. The fraudster had even cited a meeting with a government official as the reason for their unavailability, further convincing the manager. In hindsight, the manager realised the funds had been transferred to an unknown account, raising concerns over the company's financial security. Crowdfunding Scam in Mumbai: Nagpada-Based Couple Allegedly Collect INR 4.5 Crore From Public for Treatment of Their 'Sick' Child, Use Money for Other Purposes; Booked.

The Mumbai Police’s Cyber Crime Unit was promptly notified, and an investigation has been initiated. Authorities are now working to track down the perpetrators using the bank account details and call data records linked to the fraudulent number. A case has been registered under cybercrime laws, and police are analysing all possible leads to identify the suspects behind the scam.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 28, 2024 11:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).