Chennai, October 5: In a distressing case of email spoofing, a Chennai businessman lost INR 2 crore after falling victim to a fraudulent scheme involving a deceptive email. The businessman, associated with Agrigo Trading Private Limited, received a seemingly legitimate email requesting payment for a proforma invoice totalling USD 238,500, which he believed was part of an ongoing business transaction. Unbeknownst to him, the email was sent from a spoofed address, imitating a trusted supplier. Upon realising the scam the next day, he promptly reported the incident to the police, who launched an investigation and recovered the funds.

The case came to light on September 26, when the businessman made an NEFT payment from his account at the State Bank of India, following what he thought was a legitimate invoice. However, the very next day, while confirming the payment with the actual supplier, he discovered the email was fraudulent, prompting him to file a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. As reported by the Times of India, the case was officially registered at the State Cyber Crime Investigation Centre, leading to an urgent inquiry. ‘FedEx Courier’ Scam in Chennai: Senior Citizen Duped of INR 4.67 Crore Following Digital Arrest in Cyber Fraud; 13 Arrested.

It is to be noted that email spoofing is a common tactic used by cybercriminals, where they send emails from forged addresses that appear to be from reputable sources. This method deceives victims into believing they are communicating with legitimate businesses or individuals, resulting in unauthorised transactions. In this instance, the fraudulent email closely mirrored previous communications, which contributed to the victim's trust. SBI Reward Points Scam: 3 Swindle INR 2.35 Lakh From Chennai Man’s Bank Account After Sending Him Phishing Link on Mobile Phone, Arrested From West Bengal.

Thanks to the prompt action of the cybercrime officials, who coordinated with multiple banking institutions, the entire amount of INR 2 crore was successfully traced back. They worked alongside the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regions Bank in the USA to verify and reclaim the funds. The recovery serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of verifying the authenticity of emails, especially in significant financial dealings.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2024 05:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).