Ahmedabad real estate agent loses ₹1.5 crore in fake RBI ZIP file scam

A real estate agent from Ahmedabad has lost ₹1.5 crore in a cyber fraud after hackers allegedly gained access to his office computer using a fake Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ZIP file. The victim, 48-year-old Pravin Bawadia from Bodakdev, has filed a complaint with the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police, who have started an investigation into the case.

According to the complaint, Pravin received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number on June 23 along with a ZIP file claiming to be an RBI notice. He forwarded the file to his accountant for verification. When the accountant opened the ZIP file on the office computer through WhatsApp Web, the system was allegedly hacked, giving cybercriminals access to the computer.

The next day, the fraudsters allegedly created a fake WhatsApp account using Pravin’s name and display pictures. They then sent a message to the accountant, claiming that Pravin was in a meeting and urgently needed ₹1.5 crore transferred through RTGS. The message included the bank account details of Belar Garment Private Limited.

Believing the message had come from his employer, the accountant transferred ₹1.5 crore to the bank account provided. A few minutes later, Pravin received a transaction alert from his bank. After speaking to the accountant, he realised that they had fallen victim to a cyber fraud.

The businessman immediately approached the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police and lodged a complaint. Police have registered the case and launched an investigation to trace the hackers and recover the stolen money. The incident highlights how cybercriminals are using fake official documents and impersonation tactics to target businesses and carry out high-value financial frauds.