Hyderabad Director Defrauded of ₹1.2 Crore in Sophisticated WhatsApp Impersonation Scam

A corporate director at a major Indian dairy conglomerate has become the victim of a sophisticated digital fraud, losing ₹1.2 crore (approximately $145,000) in a WhatsApp impersonation scam. Cyberabad police confirmed that funds intended for legitimate business operations were diverted to fraudulent accounts after an accountant was deceived by a spoofed profile mimicking a senior executive.

Background and Context

The incident highlights the evolving nature of corporate financial crime, where fraudsters increasingly exploit instant messaging platforms to bypass traditional verification protocols. By replicating the profile pictures and display names of high-ranking officials, criminals manipulate employees into authorizing urgent financial transfers. This method, an adaptation of "CEO fraud" or business email compromise, relies on the urgency and authority implied by the impersonator's digital identity to override standard checks.

Key Figures and Entities

The victim, identified in police filings as Divya Reddy Dodla, 48, is a prominent businesswoman and director within the Dodla-Pratap group. According to corporate records, she holds directorships in several firms, including the publicly listed Dodla Dairy Limited, Pratap Raceciment Private Limited, and Stepping Stone Hotels Private Limited.

The complaint traces the fraudulent transaction to instructions received by the company’s accountant, Gundemeda Raghu Babu. The funds were transferred to an account held under the name "Laboris Interiors" at the South Indian Bank. Police records indicate that a second attempt was made to siphon ₹18 lakh through an entity named "Arm Playbord Private Limited."

Legal and Financial Mechanisms

The scam was executed on March 13, 2026, when the accountant received a WhatsApp message appearing to originate from Dodla. Trusting the visual verification of the contact name and profile image, the employee processed the transfer of ₹1.2 crore. The deception was uncovered four days later, on March 17, when a follow-up request for a second payment prompted a review of the initial transaction. Police investigations suggest the suspects utilized a network of bank accounts to impersonate the businesswoman and rapidly move the company's assets.

International Implications and Policy Response

Local law enforcement has registered a case against unidentified persons and is currently analyzing digital trails and bank ledgers. The swift reporting of the crime to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) is part of a broader institutional effort to curb such financial losses. However, the case underscores ongoing challenges in regulating digital platforms and the need for stricter multi-factor authentication protocols in corporate financial workflows to prevent social engineering attacks.

Sources

This report is based on a complaint filed with the Cyberabad Cyber Crimes Police Station, official police statements, and public corporate filings regarding the Dodla-Pratap business group.