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In a harrowing tale of cybercrime, textile tycoon S P Oswal narrowly escaped a Rs 2 crore financial loss thanks to his vigilance and a keen eye for detail. The incident unfolded when Oswal, chairman and managing director of the Vardhman Group, fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scheme orchestrated by cyber fraudsters posing as CBI officers. The con artists, using a carefully crafted narrative involving fake arrest warrants and threats of 'digital arrest', managed to convince Oswal to transfer a staggering Rs 7 crore into their accounts.
Oswal, who had fallen ill during the ordeal and was hospitalized, found himself under increasing pressure from the fraudsters. They demanded an additional Rs 2 crore be transferred to an ICICI Bank account, a request that raised red flags for Oswal. Suspicious of the government agency's use of a private bank account, he investigated further. He discovered the account was in the name of 'Chouhan Enterprise', confirming his suspicion that the callers were not genuine CBI officials. This timely discovery prevented Oswal from falling further victim to the elaborate scam.
The incident began with a seemingly innocuous automated call on August 27, claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller informed Oswal that his mobile number was about to be blocked, prompting him to press '9' on his phone to continue service. This maneuver connected him to a person who identified himself as Vijay Khanna of the CBI, Mumbai. The caller was joined by another individual who claimed to be Rahul Gupta, a chief investigating officer from the CBI. They then proceeded to provide Oswal's Aadhaar card number and residential address, stating that a bank account opened in his name at Canara Bank in Mumbai had been used in suspicious transactions with Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways. They also alleged that a parcel had been booked in his name using his Aadhaar for overseas shipping. When Oswal denied any involvement in these activities, the fraudsters presented him with fabricated FIR details and a Supreme Court arrest warrant, adding further legitimacy to their deception.
The fraudsters, in a bid to further convince Oswal of their authority, created a Skype account for him and initiated a video call. During the call, they posed as police officers in uniform and even went so far as to involve Oswal in a fake Supreme Court hearing for his bail. To maintain control and prevent Oswal from revealing their scheme, the fraudsters provided him with a document containing 'surveillance rules and regulations' applicable to suspects. This document, according to the imposters, stipulated that anyone who disclosed information about Oswal's 'arrest' would face a 3-5 year prison sentence. Oswal, fearing for his safety and that of his family, kept the entire episode a secret, even sleeping with the video call active and taking his meals in front of the fraudsters.
The Ludhiana Police, after receiving Oswal's complaint, quickly swung into action. They traced the IP address used to make WhatsApp calls to Oswal's phone to Cambodia, highlighting the international nature of this cybercrime ring. The police, aided by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (established by the Ministry of Home Affairs), are continuing their investigation to unravel the broader conspiracy. The Punjab DGP, Gaurav Yadav, commended the Ludhiana police commissioner, Kuldeep Singh Chahal, and his team for their exemplary work in apprehending two of the seven suspects involved in this elaborate scam. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals and the importance of vigilance in protecting oneself from online fraud.