In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a senior state minister’s office has fallen prey to a sophisticated scam. The accountant of Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Nandi, Ritesh Shrivastav, duped of ₹2.08 crore by fraudsters posing as the minister’s son.
Using social engineering tactics and banking on urgency, the criminals orchestrated the heist by convincing Shrivastav to transfer the amount across multiple accounts.
How the Fraud Unfolded?
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Shrivastav received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The display picture (DP) featured a photograph of Minister Nandi’s son.
The message claimed the sender was in the middle of a crucial business meeting and had switched to a new number. The scammer urgently requested funds, shared the bank account details, and demanded the immediate transfer of the money.
Believing the message to be genuine, Shrivastav acted without hesitation. Within a short span, he transferred ₹2.08 crore to three accounts provided by the fraudster.
Shrivastav discovered the deception when he later cross-checked with the minister’s family and found that no one had made such a request.
Alarmed by the revelation, the accountant however notified his superiors, triggering a flurry of activity that spanned from Prayagraj to Lucknow.
Cyber Police Investigation Underway
The matter was reported to the cyber police station late Wednesday night. Given the high-profile nature of the victim, senior police officials joined the probe.
Initial investigations revealed that fraudsters distributed the funds across accounts in three different banks, including ICICI and HDFC. Cyber police immediately sought to freeze the accounts and began tracing the fraudsters.
Cyber police station in-charge Rajiv Tiwari confirmed that he had sent emails to the respective banks to block the accounts and obtain transaction histories.
“We are analyzing all available digital footprints and bank account details to identify the perpetrators,” Tiwari said.
This incident however highlights the growing menace of cyber fraud, even targeting individuals in high-ranking positions. Experts have urged citizens to verify any financial requests, especially those made over digital platforms, before acting.
Attempts to reach Minister Nand Gopal Nandi for a statement were unsuccessful. His office, through a representative, stated that the matter is under investigation and further comments will be made at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to the public to remain cautious and report suspicious messages or calls promptly to avoid falling victim to similar scams.
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