Key facts
- Rs 10.4 crore WhatsApp impersonation scam busted in Mumbai
- 6 people arrested
- Gold trail was key to cracking the case
- Fraudsters impersonated individuals on WhatsApp to extract money
Mumbai Police have arrested six people after cracking a Rs 10.4 crore WhatsApp impersonation scam, with investigators crediting a gold trail — proceeds converted into physical gold — as the key evidence that broke open the case, India Today reported.
The modus operandi involved fraudsters impersonating known individuals on WhatsApp to convince victims into transferring large sums of money. Such scams have proliferated with the mass adoption of smartphones, as criminals exploit the trust users place in familiar contact names and profile pictures. The scale of this particular fraud — Rs 10.4 crore — places it among the more significant cybercrime busts in the city in recent months.
The conversion of illicit funds into gold is an increasingly common technique used by cybercriminals to launder proceeds, as gold is difficult to trace and easy to liquidate. Investigators were able to follow this paper-and-gold trail back to the accused, leading to six arrests. Further arrests may follow as the probe deepens.
The case underlines the growing sophistication of cyber fraud networks operating in India's metros. Authorities have repeatedly warned users to verify identities independently before transferring money, even when a request appears to come from a known contact on WhatsApp or other messaging platforms.