Chandigarh Cyber Police Investigate Major Rs 2 Crore WhatsApp Impersonation Fraud
The Cyber Police of the Union Territory of Chandigarh have officially registered a criminal case against an unidentified individual for orchestrating a sophisticated digital fraud. The case involves the alleged duping of a local company of nearly Rs 2 crore through a deceptive WhatsApp impersonation scheme targeting the firm's managing director.
Details of the Elaborate Digital Deception
According to the formal complaint lodged with the cyber crime unit, the fraudulent incident transpired on the afternoon of April 15, 2026. The complainant, identified as Sanjeev Agrawal, a resident of Shivalik Enclave in NAC Manimajra, reported that at approximately 1:35 PM, the company's accounts officer, Neha, informed him about a substantial financial transfer.
The accounts officer explained that she had transferred a staggering sum of Rs 1.96 crore after receiving urgent instructions on WhatsApp from what appeared to be the company's managing director. The messages specifically directed her to immediately transfer the funds to a designated bank account provided by the sender.
How the Impersonation Scheme Unfolded
Agrawal detailed in his complaint that the WhatsApp profile used in the fraud displayed both the name and photograph of the company's actual managing director. This convincing replication created the impression that the financial instructions were legitimate and authorized.
"The profile appeared completely authentic with the correct name and photo, leaving no immediate reason for suspicion," Agrawal stated in his police complaint.
Acting on what she believed to be genuine directives from her superior, the accounts officer proceeded to transfer the substantial amount through the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system.
Discovery and Immediate Response
Upon subsequent verification, the company discovered that the WhatsApp messages had not originated from their managing director's actual account. Investigation revealed that the fraudulent WhatsApp account was linked to mobile number 916026870882, which differed from the MD's legitimate contact number despite displaying identical profile information.
Once the deception was uncovered, the company immediately initiated emergency protocols:
- Contacted their primary banking institution to report the fraudulent transaction
- Approached officials at the recipient bank, urgently requesting them to freeze the beneficiary account
- Began internal investigation procedures to determine the security breach
Unfortunately, the complainant reported that bank officials informed them the funds had already been moved through multiple subsequent accounts, complicating recovery efforts.
Police Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Following the unsuccessful attempt to recover the funds through banking channels, Agrawal formally approached the UT Cyber Police Station. He submitted comprehensive documentation including transaction details, WhatsApp screenshots, and bank records.
After thorough verification of the submitted evidence, police authorities registered a formal cheating case against unknown persons. The case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), marking it as one of the significant digital fraud investigations currently underway in the region.
Police officials confirmed that while no arrests have been made thus far, investigative teams are actively analyzing transaction patterns and meticulously following the money trail to identify those responsible for the elaborate scam.
A senior investigating officer stated, "We are employing advanced digital forensic techniques to trace the movement of funds and identify the individuals behind this sophisticated impersonation fraud. The investigation is progressing with priority attention."
The case highlights growing concerns about digital security and the sophisticated methods employed by cyber criminals targeting corporate entities through social engineering and identity impersonation techniques on popular messaging platforms.
