A corporate healthcare company in search of investors suffered a financial loss exceeding Rs 2 crore due to a phishing scam executed by an international hacker. The wrongdoer assumed the identity of the corporate communication manager of a Singaporean company expressing interest in investing in the victim company. They initiated contact with the owner through Telegram, requesting specific information and sharing what appeared to be a harmless link. However, when the victim clicked on the link, it led to an unauthorized transfer of Rs 2.20 crore from the victim’s cryptocurrency wallet.
The proprietor of the health company, who also happens to be a chartered accountant, reported the incident to the Maharashtra Cyber police station. A specialised team has been formed to investigate how the complainant’s cryptocurrency details were compromised. These links often lead to phishing websites designed to steal personal information, including login credentials, credit card data and debit card details. “Despite repeated police advisories cautioning against clicking on suspicious links, people continue to fall victim to such scams,” a police officer said.
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2 Crore Investment Agreement with Khyber Ventures
The complainant had been actively seeking investors for his company, and a Singaporean company named Khyber Ventures had expressed interest in investing. An E-contract was established between the two parties, facilitated by a certain Luthe Lui. According to the contract, Khyber Ventures had intended to invest $2.49 lakh, equivalent to Rs 2 crore. Khyber Ventures duly deposited this sum into the complainant’s company’s cryptocurrency wallet.
However, on June 18, an individual claiming to represent Khyber Ventures got in touch with the complainant’s company through Telegram, posing as the corporate communications manager. They requested an online meeting to discuss potential investment. Then, on June 20, a person named Jenny Kyber sent a Telegram message containing a link, urging the complainant to click on it. When the complainant clicked the link, they unintentionally witnessed the transfer of $2.49 lakh, which had been invested by Khyber Ventures, along with $15,100 from their own account. In total, an equivalent of Rs 2.20 crore was illicitly taken by unidentified scammers. The Maharashtra Cyber police has filed a First Information Report (FIR) related to this incident.
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