Pune Cyber Police Crack Down on Rs 1.95 Crore Online Fraud, Arrest Two from Karnataka
In a significant breakthrough, the Pune cyber police have apprehended two individuals from Belagavi, Karnataka, for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated online fraud case that resulted in a staggering loss of Rs 1.95 crore for a local construction company. The arrests were made on Thursday evening, marking a crucial step in unraveling a complex man-in-the-middle cyberattack scheme.
Details of the Arrests and Investigation
Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde of the Pune cyber police provided detailed insights into the case. The accused have been identified as Ajay Ramvilas Yadav, a 22-year-old hardware shop owner, and Salman Gaus Moinuddin Ajnal, a 32-year-old garage worker, both residents of Belagavi. The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged on January 19 by a Hadapsar-based construction firm.
"We established the money trail in the fraud case and discovered that the account to which the funds were transferred belonged to Yadav," stated Inspector Shinde. "Our team subsequently apprehended Yadav and questioned him regarding the substantial sum credited to his account."
How the Fraud Was Executed
The fraudulent activity centered around a classic man-in-the-middle attack. The construction company had placed an order for construction equipment from another firm and was required to pay Rs 1.95 crore towards the bills. However, the company received an email from an address that closely mimicked that of the legitimate equipment supplier.
Unbeknownst to the construction firm, the fraudsters had manipulated the email by substituting the original bank account details with those of their own. Tragically, the Hadapsar-based company proceeded with the transfer without verifying the account information with the actual supplier's officials, leading to the massive financial loss.
Unraveling the Conspiracy
Further investigation revealed that Yadav, who operates a hardware shop jointly with his father, had shared his bank account credentials with Ajnal. In exchange, Ajnal had promised him a commission from the illicit transactions. "Based on this critical information, we arrested Ajnal," Inspector Shinde explained. "We are now intensively searching for Ajnal's handlers and other accomplices involved in this elaborate scheme."
The Pune cyber police are continuing their probe to identify all parties involved and recover the defrauded funds. This case underscores the growing threat of cybercrime and the importance of stringent verification processes in financial transactions.
