In a significant cybercrime breakthrough, the West Bengal Cyber Crime Wing has recovered Rs 1.31 crore within 13 days after a corporate WhatsApp scam nearly cost a company close to Rs 2 crore, highlighting the rising threat of digital impersonation frauds targeting businesses across India.
On June 25, 2025, Nikhil Kumar Mahanta, the Chief Operating Officer of Haldia Water Services Pvt. Ltd., received a WhatsApp message appearing to be from the company’s Managing Director. The message used the MD’s display photo and imitated his communication style, urgently requesting Mahanta to transfer Rs 1.98 crore to a bank account in the name of Slamione IT Solution Pvt. Ltd., located in Bangalore.
Trusting the authenticity of the message, Mahanta authorised the transfer via RTGS to an HDFC Bank account. However, after noticing inconsistencies in the conversation, he grew suspicious and swiftly filed a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal with the help of the Cyber Crime Wing.
Swift Action and Recovery
Following Mahanta’s complaint, an FIR was registered at Durgachak police station under Sections 316 (2) and 318 (4) of BNS against unknown individuals. The case was transferred to the West Bengal Cyber Crime Wing for detailed investigation. Acting promptly, the Cyber Crime Wing coordinated with HDFC Bank’s Domlur branch in Bangalore, successfully freezing Rs 1.31 crore of the defrauded amount. This amount was refunded to the company’s account within 13 days of the fraudulent transaction.
According to senior officials from West Bengal Police, Rs 1.39 crore has been secured as a lien against the total defrauded amount of Rs 1.98 crore, and efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining Rs 67 lakh.
Arrests Made, Interstate Links Under Investigation
During the investigation, police arrested two individuals, Mantu Das and Papai Das, both residents of Bamongola in Malda district, for allegedly providing the SIM card used to impersonate the company’s MD on WhatsApp. Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of an interstate cyber fraud syndicate in orchestrating this scam, indicating a well-coordinated network targeting corporate accounts for high-value frauds.
The authorities are actively pursuing leads across states to trace and apprehend other individuals connected to this organised cybercrime operation, reflecting the growing challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling sophisticated digital frauds in the country.
The case underscores the importance of vigilance and verification in the digital communication space, especially for businesses, to prevent falling victim to impersonation scams that exploit trust for financial gains.
