Cyberabad police recover ₹1 crore lost in ‘boss impersonation’ scam

Cyberabad police recover ₹1 crore lost in 'boss impersonation' scam Updated – August 20, 2026 01: 02 am IST – HYDERABAD.

Key points

• The accused, Deepak Kumar, a water-plant business operator from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly applied a forged WhatsApp profile to impersonate the proprietor of the retail outlet.
• During the investigation, Cyberabad Cyber Crime police discovered that the capital had been routed through a corporate current account in the name of Royal Moda Pvt.
• Further analysis through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal made public links between the accused's bank account and cybercrime cases registered in other states.
• On August 4, the outlet's accountant received a financial request through the forged profile.
• Kumar was traced to Lucknow and arrested on August 8.

Cyberabad Cyber Crime police have secured and restored ₹1 crore allegedly lost by a saree retail outlet in a boss impersonation scam, with a 37-year-old man arrested in connection with the fraud.

Meanwhile, the accused, Deepak Kumar, a water-plant business operator from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly applied a forged WhatsApp profile to impersonate the proprietor of the retail outlet.

On August 4, the outlet's accountant received a financial request through the forged profile. It he believed belonged to the proprietor. Acting on the request, he transferred ₹1 crore from the victim's Karur Vysya Bank account to an IndusInd Bank account.

During the investigation, Cyberabad Cyber Crime police discovered that the capital had been routed through a corporate current account in the name of Royal Moda Pvt. Ltd., which was allegedly being applied as a mule account to route fraudulent proceeds.

Kumar was traced to Lucknow and arrested on August 8. He was produced before a competent court in Lucknow. It granted transit remand, after which he was brought to Cyberabad and produced before the IX Further Metropolitan Magistrate, Kukatpally. He was subsequently remanded in judicial custody.

Prompt police action and intervention by the courts supported secure the fraudulently transferred amount. After which the entire ₹1 crore was secured and returned to the victim on August 14, within 10 days of the fraud, police noted, appropriate orders were passed within a day for restoration of the funds.

Further analysis through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal made public links between the accused's bank account and cybercrime cases registered in other states. Investigation is under way to identify other accused persons, ascertain their roles and trace the complete funds trail.

Those who fall victim to financial cyber fraud have been advised to immediately call 1930 or report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to facilitate efforts to secure the defrauded funds.

Taken together, the developments around cyberabad police recover ₹1 crore lost in 'boss impersonation' scam point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.