Bengaluru: In a startling case of cyber fraud, a manager at a Rajajinagar-based firm was duped into transferring ₹50 lakh after fraudsters impersonated the company’s director on WhatsApp.
The scam unfolded on March 23, when DS Bhat, manager at Skanda Blue Corp LLP, received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number claiming to be from the company’s director, Srinivas K. The number even had Srinivas’ photo as the display picture, convincing Bhat of its authenticity.
The next morning, the impersonator messaged again, pretending to be in a meeting and urgently requesting details of the company’s bank balance. When Bhat responded, he was asked to transfer ₹50 lakh to a firm called Harshit Fabrics, with a work order and account details provided.
Still believing the conversation to be genuine, Bhat went ahead and completed the transaction.
The scam unravelled two days later, on March 25, when the fraudster pushed for a second transfer — this time for ₹1 crore — to another entity, Suraj & Sons Enterprises. Suspicious, Bhat approached Srinivas in person for approval, only to realize he’d been conned.
A police complaint was immediately filed, and an investigation is now underway. The recipient bank account details have been sought, though no arrests have been made yet.
This incident serves as a serious warning about deepfake impersonations, urging companies to verify communication through trusted channels.
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