Faridabad police arrest six over WhatsApp CMD-impersonation fraud of Rs 50 lakh; 'Ajay Manpower' account used
The Hindustan Times (PTI) reported on 20 October 2026 that Faridabad police arrested six people over a cyber fraud in which a WhatsApp message from an unknown number, displaying a photograph of a company's chairman an…
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Source: hindustantimes.com · published
What happened
The Hindustan Times (PTI) reported on 20 October 2026 that Faridabad police arrested six people over a cyber fraud in which a WhatsApp message from an unknown number, displaying a photograph of a company's chairman and managing director (CMD), directed the complainant to transfer Rs 1 crore to a bank account, and Rs 50 lakh was transferred. Police allege the Rs 50 lakh was deposited into the current account of a firm called 'Ajay Manpower', set up by one accused, whose access was passed between the accused and handed to fraudsters via Telegram. The accused were identified as Ajay, Adnan Khan, Avinash, Nasir, Jayarvan and Rizwan. Police said Rs 29 lakh has been frozen. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
How the scam works
This is a version of the 'CEO fraud' or business email compromise scam, carried out over WhatsApp. According to police, the complainant received a message from an unknown number whose profile showed a photograph of his company's chairman and managing director, instructing him to transfer Rs 1 crore to a specified bank account. Believing the message was genuine, he transferred Rs 50 lakh from the company's account, then realised he had been defrauded and filed a case at the Faridabad Central Cyber Police Station.
Police allege the money landed in the current account of a firm, 'Ajay Manpower', that had been set up and then passed along a chain of people before access was handed to fraudsters over Telegram, with one accused allegedly operating it from a hotel. Police say they recovered five mobile phones and froze Rs 29 lakh, and that all six accused were produced in court and sent to judicial custody. They have not been convicted.
The case shows how 'mule' accounts in the names of real businesses can be used to receive stolen money. A profile photo of a senior executive proves nothing, because anyone can copy a photo onto a new WhatsApp number. Companies can reduce the risk by requiring a call-back on a known number, or a second approver, before any urgent or unusual payment requested by message.
Source
Hindustan Times (PTI), "Faridabad: 6 arrested for swindling ₹50 lakh via cyber-fraud" (published 20 October 2026).
Red flags
- A WhatsApp message from an unknown number using your boss's or chairman's photo.
- An urgent instruction to transfer a large sum to a new account.
- Requests to keep the payment confidential or skip normal approvals.
- A beneficiary account in the name of an unfamiliar firm.
If you were targeted
- 1Call the executive back on a number you already have before making any payment.
- 2Require two people to approve unusual or urgent transfers.
- 3If money has been sent, contact your bank immediately to try to freeze it.
- 4In India, report cyber fraud on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in as quickly as possible.
- 5Never sell or lend access to your bank account; it can be used to move stolen money.