High-Tech Cyber Fraud Targets Former MP Naresh Gujral in Delhi
Cyber Crime Hits High-Profile Individuals
In the capital city of India, cybercriminals have become so audacious that even VVIPs and influential figures are not safe from their traps. Naresh Gujral, the son of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and a former Rajya Sabha MP, has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber scam. The fraudsters exploited his identity on a digital messaging platform and manipulated contacts on his company's employee's mobile phone, resulting in a staggering loss of ₹7.8 crores. Fortunately, due to the swift action of the Delhi police, ₹4 crores of the defrauded amount have been frozen across various accounts.
Details of the Fraud
According to investigators, the scam occurred between June 12 and June 16. The cybercriminals created a fake account using Gujral's display picture on a messaging platform and contacted individuals pretending to be him.
They then reached out to an employee at Gujral's company, sending urgent messages that instructed multiple RTGS transfers, which appeared to be legitimate business transactions. Trusting the authenticity of the messages, the employee executed four separate transactions, transferring a total of ₹7.8 crores.
Discovery of the Scam
Initially, the fraud went unnoticed as the payments seemed to be part of regular business operations. During this process, the bank flagged the unusually large transactions and sought approval from the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO). It is reported that the CFO authorized the transfers, believing they were sanctioned by Gujral.
The scam came to light on June 16 when a company official suspected irregularities and contacted Gujral's daughter for confirmation. Upon speaking with her father, it was revealed that he had not issued any such instructions, prompting the family to file a police complaint.
Investigation Findings
During the investigation, police discovered that the fraudsters had initially sent a malicious file to an employee, which compromised their mobile phone. After gaining access to the device, the criminals allegedly altered the saved contact information.
Investigators noted that the gang replaced Gujral's phone number with their own in the employee's contact list while keeping the profile picture unchanged. Consequently, messages sent by the fraudsters appeared to come directly from Gujral, making the deception more convincing.
Response from Naresh Gujral
Gujral, who runs a clothing business, expressed regret that his CFO fell victim to the scam in his absence. He commended the Delhi police's cybercrime unit for their prompt action, which led to the recovery of approximately 70% of the stolen funds. He remains hopeful that more funds will be recovered in the coming days.
Police Advisory
Authorities revealed that the stolen money was transferred through four transactions to bank accounts located in different states. Police Deputy Commissioner (IFSO) Vineet Kumar urged the public to remain vigilant, stating, "If someone requests you to transfer money or share sensitive information, always verify the request by calling the person directly."