Hyderabad CEO duped of Rs 1.2 crore in WhatsApp impersonation cyber fraud

Cyber fraudsters impersonated a Hyderabad-based company CEO on WhatsApp and tricked her accountant into transferring Rs 1.20 crore to multiple bank accounts. The victim later realised the fraud and lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police.

Hyderabad: A CEO of a company, who is a granddaughter of a former Director General of Police rank official, was duped of Rs. 1.20 crores by cyber fraudsters.

According to the reports, the cyber fraudsters early this month contacted the accountant of the CEO of the company over whatsapp posting the image of the lady as a display picture. The accountant was asked to send Rs. 1.20 crore to a few bank accounts as she was busy with a meeting and could not speak to him.

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Believing that the message was sent from the CEO, the accountant transferred Rs. 1.20 crore to the bank accounts provided by the conman. On March 17, again the fraudsters sent a message to the accountant directing him to transfer the funds to some other bank accounts.

The accountant went to check with the CEO and came to know that she did not send any message. The accountant then informed her that in a previous instance, he had transferred Rs. 1.20 crore to a few accounts after receiving a message from her. When the CEO denied sending any message, the accountant realized the fraudsters had conned them. A police complaint was made at Hyderabad Cyber Crime police station. A case was registered and investigation started.