- Cyber Crime Police Achieves Major Breakthrough in ₹18 Lakh Business Impersonation Fraud
- Three Accused Already Arrested from Gwalior; Efforts Underway to Recover Remaining Amount
Lucknow: In a landmark success against cybercrime, the Cyber Crime Police Station of the Lucknow Commissionerate has successfully solved the city’s first reported “Boss Scam” case, recovering ₹10.85 lakh from a cyber fraud involving a prominent city businessman and continuing efforts to recover the remaining amount and arrest all those involved.
The case involved a sophisticated cyber fraud in which criminals impersonated the son of a well-known businessman associated with Calcutta Regalia, deceiving the company’s accountant into transferring funds through a fraudulent WhatsApp communication.
How the Fraud Was Executed
According to investigators, cybercriminals posed as the businessman’s son and sent a malware-linked message through WhatsApp. Using social engineering techniques and impersonation tactics, the fraudsters gained the victim’s trust and succeeded in siphoning off ₹18 lakh.
Upon receiving the complaint, the Cyber Crime Police Station immediately registered a case under Case Crime No. 0062/2026 and initiated action under the critical Golden Hour Response Protocol, aimed at maximizing the chances of recovering stolen funds before they are withdrawn or transferred further.
Swift Police Action Leads to Recovery
Working under the guidance of the Lucknow Police Commissioner and the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime & Headquarters), and under the supervision of senior crime and cybercrime officials, investigators coordinated with banks, payment aggregators, and financial institutions to identify suspicious accounts and freeze transactions.
Through continuous technical analysis and financial tracking, police first secured the return of ₹6 lakh to the victim. Further follow-up efforts resulted in an additional recovery of ₹4.85 lakh, bringing the total recovered amount to ₹10.85 lakh.
Authorities said efforts are continuing to recover the remaining funds and trace all individuals involved in the fraud network.
Three Arrested in Connection with the Case
Police officials revealed that three accused persons have already been arrested from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in connection with the cyber fraud. Further technical and legal proceedings are underway to identify additional accomplices and establish the complete network behind the scam.
Victim Praises Cyber Crime Police
Expressing gratitude to the Cyber Crime Police, the victim stated:
“When I lost ₹18 lakh in a cyber fraud, I felt recovering the money would be nearly impossible. However, the Cyber Crime Police acted immediately and followed up relentlessly. Thanks to their efforts, ₹10.85 lakh has already been returned. I sincerely appreciate the team’s prompt response, technical expertise, and professional handling of the case. I am confident the remaining amount will also be recovered.”
What Is a Boss Scam?
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kiran Yadav, IPS, explained that Boss Scam, also known as Business Impersonation Fraud, is emerging as a major cybercrime threat across India and globally.
In such schemes, cybercriminals gather information about a company and its executives through publicly available sources such as company websites, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. They then create fake WhatsApp accounts, email addresses, or phone numbers using similar names and profile pictures.
The fraudsters typically contact finance or accounts department employees with urgent messages such as:
- “I’m in a meeting, don’t call me.”
- “This is a confidential payment.”
- “Transfer the money immediately.”
- “The deal must be finalized today.”
By creating pressure and exploiting trust, criminals convince employees to transfer money into fraudulent accounts.
Cyber Safety Advisory
ADCP Crime Kiran Yadav emphasized that cybercriminals increasingly exploit human psychology alongside technology. She advised businesses and individuals to adopt strict verification procedures before processing financial transactions.
Key precautions include:
- Never rely solely on a WhatsApp profile picture or display name for identification.
- Independently verify all financial instructions through official contact channels.
- Be cautious of messages demanding urgent or confidential payments.
- Implement two-level verification and maker-checker systems for financial transactions.
- Avoid downloading unknown links, APK files, or suspicious applications.
- Never share OTPs, UPI PINs, passwords, or banking credentials.
- Report cyber fraud immediately by calling the 1930 Cyber Helpline or filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Police officials said the successful recovery in this case demonstrates the importance of reporting cybercrime quickly, as timely intervention significantly increases the chances of recovering stolen funds.
The Cyber Crime Police Station, Lucknow Commissionerate, reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens and businesses from evolving digital threats and ensuring a safer cyber ecosystem.
