Mumbai: Fraudster hacks into custom official’s email, demands bitcoins worth $ 838

(Representational image)

AN INSPECTOR from the customs department recently fell prey to a cyber fraud after an unidentified person hacked his email and demanded bitcoins worth $838.

On August 12, The Indian Express had reported about unidentified cyber fraudsters being booked by Powai police after they allegedly hacked into the email account of an assistant commissioner of the customs department and sent out emails to his friends demanding money.

Similarly, the Byculla police on Wednesday registered a case under the Information Technology Act, after the inspector, Abhimanyu Ujwal, received an email demanding bitcoins.

Ujwal, posted in Mumbai, is a resident of Ghodapdeo area of Byculla. In his statement to the police, Ujwal has said that he originally hails from Jaipur. “I had created an email account [email protected] while I was studying in IIM Calcutta. I have been using this email ID since 2011,” he added.

On Tuesday, Ujwal received an email from this account, which alleged that the account has been hacked. It also mentioned the password of his account.

“The hacker alleged that to retrieve the account, bitcoin worth $ 838 has to be paid,” said a police officer, adding that Ujwal got scared and deleted the email.

“Later, when I checked my inbox, I found three mails from my own account, in which the hackers had sent some obscene messages,” said Ujwal in his statement. On Wednesday, Ujwal got a case registered at the Byculla police station.

“The complainant has even given us the IP address from where the email were sent and we are trying to trace the culprits,” said an officer. Senior Inspector Dinesh Kadam from Byculla police station confirmed that an FIR has been lodged.

For all the latest Mumbai News, download Indian Express App

Original Source