Mumbai, July 20: A significant cyber fraud has come to light, involving a major company that fell victim to a scheme known as the ‘Boss Scam.’ This incident raises questions about the security of corporate communications.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has exposed an interstate gang responsible for this elaborate scam. The operation began when a senior official of a prominent company received a WhatsApp message from what appeared to be the company director. The message stated, “I am in a meeting… I need to make some urgent payments… please transfer the money immediately.”
Without verifying the message, the official proceeded to transfer funds, resulting in over ₹10.4 crore being siphoned off to various bank accounts. By the time the real director was contacted, it was too late.
The Mumbai police named this new cyber fraud ‘Boss Scam’ after observing the modus operandi. The South Cyber Police of Mumbai viewed this case as not just a simple fraud but as a challenge to uncover an organized network operating across the country. They meticulously analyzed technical and banking trails, revealing the extent of the scam.
The investigation led to simultaneous operations in Maharashtra, Bihar, and Delhi. So far, eight suspects have been arrested. During interrogation, it was discovered that the gang had arranged bank accounts to facilitate the transfers, rotating the funds through different accounts, and then attempting to obscure the money trail by purchasing gold.
As the investigation progressed, more details about the gang emerged. Police recovered mobile phones, bank passbooks, ATM cards, and numerous digital pieces of evidence from the suspects. Fortunately, timely action allowed the police to freeze over ₹5.63 crore in bank accounts linked to the scam.
However, authorities believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. The network includes individuals responsible for providing bank accounts, withdrawing cash, purchasing gold, and creating fake identities.
The Mumbai police are now focused on identifying the mastermind behind this operation. Investigations revealed that the scam’s proceeds were used to buy gold from renowned jewelers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Police teams are actively investigating leads across multiple states. Sources indicate that further arrests may occur soon, and inquiries are underway to determine if other major companies have also been targeted by this ‘Boss Scam.’
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