Three Foreign Nationals Arrested for Hacking MP Husain Dalwai’s Email Account

Three foreigners were arrested from New Delhi by the Cyber police on October 26, 2018, for hacking into Congress Party member of Rajya Sabha, Husain Dalwai's email account and sending one SOS email to each of its contacts. The SOS email requested immediate financial help for his daughter's treatment as they are out of the country.

During September 25, 2018, to October 16, 2018, the email ID was hacked twice. Dalwai came to know about the fraud, as many of his friends were calling him to inquire about well-being of his daughter and also asking the mode for sending money. Moreover, the fraudsters also said in the email that Dalwai at this moment can communicate
by email only, and thus cannot be contacted on his mobile.

On October 13, a complaint was filed in this regard by Rajesh Panchal, Dalwai's personal assistant, when he came to know that INR 70,000 was transferred to the bank account by a city doctor. On the other side, Dalwai took help of social media for informing and alerting his friends about hacking of his email.

As per the official, the accused allegedly has obtained Dalwai's email account password and then sent emails from his ID using his name to many persons of his mailing list. In the mail, it was mentioned that he is going through a financial crisis and required money urgently.

"The fraudsters sent the mail in two parts. The first said he was in financial distress abroad as his daughter was undergoing treatment. It said those willing to help should reply, after which they would be given details of accounts where the money should be sent," Panchal told TOI.

DCP (CyberCrime), Akbar Pathan, said that the police found that these hackers' base is in Delhi during the investigation. So, Pathan supervised a group comprising Ravi Sardesai - senior inspector, S S Sahasrabhudhe - inspector, three sub-inspectors, and detection staff, who went to Delhi for nabbing the accused. They arrested Konate Mohamed (aged 31), Outtara N'Golhaud (aged 32) and Okpeaifoh Michael (aged 31) from their rented apartment, which they were using for hacking purpose from past few months. Mobile phones, pen drive, a laptop, ATM cards of several banks and INR 70,000 in cash have been seized from the three accused, Pathan added.

A Mumbai court on October 27, 2018, remanded the trio, who were booked for cheating, identity theft and impersonation, in police custody up to November 2. "We suspect that the accused are involved in some more frauds of this kind," said DCP Pathan, adding that further investigation was still going on.

» SPAMfighter News - 11/12/2018