Hackers use vendor’s email to steal Rs 17 lakh

The general manager of an IT company lodged a complaint with the Hebbagodi police, saying hackers recently broke into the official email ID of their foreign vendor and made away with Rs 17 lakh.

In his complaint, Roshan Khader said his company has trade dealings with the Chinese company Oman Group to import goods from them.

According to Khader, the company's assistant manager (purchase), Pramod Kumar, received an email from Oman Group's official email id, stating that the company's bank account has changed. The email contained the account number at the new bank and asked Kumar to transfer Rs 17 lakh ($26,410) for supply of the merchandise.

Since the mail came from the official email id of the supplier, Kumar did not find anything wrong and transferred the money on August 3. He made a call to the company to confirm if they had received the payment. But officials at Oman Group said they did not receive the money and there was no change in their bank account.

Khader stated in the complaint that someone had hacked into their vendor's mail and duped his company.

Based on his complaint, the Hebbagodi police booked a case of cheating and impersonation and under Section 66 of the IT Act. They also sought the Cyber Crime Police's assistance to track the hackers.