Fake court order, real bank transfer: How cyber fraudsters pulled off a daring scam in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: A cyber fraud investigation has been launched in Kerala after fraudsters allegedly tricked bank officials into defreezing six frozen accounts and transferring funds using forged court orders and fake police documents.

The Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Police registered a case after receiving a complaint from the manager of a private bank in Vazhuthacaud on June 25. An investigation is now under way.

According to police, the accounts had been frozen earlier at the request of the Cyber Police as part of ongoing criminal investigations.

In April, the bank reportedly received an email from an address closely resembling the official email ID of the Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Police. Attached to the email were forged documents, including a letter bearing the Cyber Police letterhead, a fake legal notice and a fabricated order purportedly issued by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Thiruvananthapuram.

The forged court order allegedly carried a fake signature and seal and instructed the bank to defreeze six frozen accounts before transferring Rs 66,452 to an account held with another bank in Madhya Pradesh.

Police said the fraudsters followed up with several emails from the fake address, repeatedly urging the bank to comply with the purported court order without delay.

The forgery came to light only recently when bank officials discovered that the emails and supporting documents were fake. The bank subsequently informed the Cyber Police.

Investigators have sought details from the bank regarding the action taken after receiving the fraudulent communications. They are also working to trace the account into which the money was transferred.

Police are collecting information about the account holders and examining the role of everyone involved in the alleged fraud.

A case has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, including charges of cheating, cheating by impersonation, forgery, using forged documents as genuine, forgery of court records and counterfeiting.

Police said the investigation is progressing and the accused are expected to be identified soon.