In a shocking turn of events, S.P. Oswal, the Chairperson of the Vardhman Group, was duped out of ₹7 crores by cybercriminals. The scammers posed as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and convinced Oswal that his Aadhaar number had been used in fake passports and financial frauds.
How the Scam unfolded?
It all started with a phone call from someone pretending to be a CBI officer from Mumbai. According to reports from the Indian Express and Reuters, the fraudsters went to extreme lengths by staging a fake Supreme Court hearing over a Skype call, with someone posing as the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud.
They also sent Oswal a forged, “officially stamped” Supreme Court order via WhatsApp, instructing him to transfer ₹7 crores into a so-called Secret Supervision Account.
Fearing legal trouble, S.P. Oswal transferred the money, believing it would be used for his bail. However, once he realized he had been tricked, his team quickly contacted the Ludhiana police. The police were able to freeze the accounts involved in the scam, but not before the fraudsters managed to withdraw ₹1.7 crores. Thankfully, the police recovered ₹5.2 crores, making it one of the biggest cybercrime recoveries in India.
Police Takes Action
The Ludhiana Police have arrested two suspects from Assam and West Bengal who were involved in the fraud. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal confirmed the arrests and assured the public that efforts are ongoing to catch the rest of the gang, which seems to be part of a larger network of cybercriminals operating across the country.
This case is a reminder of how clever cybercriminals have become and the importance of being cautious with digital communications. The incident with Mr. S.P. Oswal has sparked discussions on how individuals and businesses can protect themselves from such fraud.
As the investigation continues, everyone is watching closely, hoping this case will lead to better protection against the growing threat of cybercrime. For now, the story of how S.P. Oswal fell victim to this scam is a powerful lesson that nobody is completely safe from the dangers lurking online.
