New Delhi: Delhi Police have arrested two men for allegedly helping a cybercrime network execute a Rs 50 lakh fraud by impersonating a hotel company’s managing director on WhatsApp. The entire amount has since been recovered and returned to the victim following a court directive, officials said.
The accused, identified as Ankesh Yadav (25) and Samir Sheikh (30), were apprehended from Thane, Maharashtra. Both were employed at a carpentry workshop and allegedly helped arrange a bank account used to receive the stolen money.
The case came to light on October 21, when Rajeev Kumar, a finance manager with a hotel company, reported the incident to the police. He alleged that five days earlier, he had received instructions to transfer Rs 50 lakh from someone posing as the company’s managing director.
According to investigators, the fraudster had used the director’s name and WhatsApp display picture to make the communication appear genuine. The victim’s phone had also been manipulated to block the actual director’s contact number, preventing him from verifying the request.
The fraudster attempted another transaction of Rs 48 lakh on October 21, this time providing different bank details. However, the finance manager became suspicious and contacted the company’s managing director independently, preventing the second transfer.
DCP Gaurav Tyagi said the investigation led police to a beneficiary account registered in the name of Rajjab Ali, who worked as a sofa maker at Sheikh’s shop. Technical evidence subsequently helped trace and arrest the two accused.
Police froze the Rs 50 lakh deposited in the account and later secured its release through a court order. Investigators also recovered the account’s cheque book and an associated SIM card.
Police allege that Yadav had convinced Sheikh to arrange and operate the bank account, whose credentials and banking kit were eventually handed over to other members of the fraud network. Further investigation is underway to identify the handlers and establish the involvement of other suspects.
