Noida bank branch falls victim to cyber attack: How hackers stole Rs 16.50 crore

In a major cyber heist, a bank branch in Noida reported a server breach that led to the illegal transfer of Rs 16.50 crore to various accounts. The incident came to light when the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime), Vivek Ranjan Rai, announced the launch of an investigation on Monday. The IT manager of the Sector 62 branch lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime police station. According to the complaint, unknown individuals hacked the bank's servers between June 16 and 20. The hackers manipulated the bank manager's login ID and password to transfer Rs 16.50 crore into multiple accounts.

Modus Operandi of the Hackers

The cybercriminals reportedly gained control over the bank's Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system using the stolen login credentials of the bank manager. The breach went unnoticed until the end of June, when a balance sheet reconciliation exposed the unauthorized transactions. The stolen funds were distributed across 89 different bank accounts.

To address the severity of the breach, a special team has been formed to delve deeper into the case. The investigation aims to trace the transferred funds and apprehend those responsible for the cyber heist. Rai assured that arrests would be made soon, and efforts are underway to recover the stolen money.

Arrest of Cybercriminals in Separate Case

In a separate case, the Cyber Crime unit of Noida Police arrested six members of a gang involved in various fraudulent activities, including "digital arrests," drug trafficking, illegal passport creation, and money laundering. The gang was traced to 73 complaints registered across multiple states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Punjab.

Digital Arrest Tactic

"Digital arrest" is a scam tactic where cybercriminals confine victims to their homes by generating fear through audio or video calls. The scammers often pose as law enforcement officers, using AI-generated voices or videos to deceive their victims. The arrested gang members operated from the Losal area in Sikar district, Rajasthan. The cybercriminals hailed from various parts of Rajasthan and were involved in widespread cybercrime activities across different states. Investigations are ongoing, and relevant authorities in other states are being notified about the gang's operations. (With TOI and PTI inputs)