CHENNAI: A senior executive of a Chennai-based cement company ended up transferring Rs 80 lakh to cyber fraudsters in a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) cyber attack.

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a cyberattack in which a hacker steals sensitive information by eavesdropping on communications between two online targets.

According to city police, the complainant had received a WhatsApp message, which he perceived to be from the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), asking him to transfer Rs 80 lakh to a firm called SIRI enterprises.

The executive did as directed and realised that they were cheated only after he interacted with the CEO. They filed a complaint in October 2025.

Investigation by the cyber crime wing of the city police revealed that some of the amounts were sent to two bank accounts in Karnataka.

On January 7, a police team from Chennai apprehended Mohammed Arbas (21) and Hasheer Akthar (21) of Mysuru in connection with the cyber fraud. Probe revealed that both of them are mule account holders and one of them, Mohammed Arbas, has several complaints against him in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Both the accused were brought to the city, produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

GCP Commissioner A Arun cautioned the public to be careful about such fake calls, high-profit investment advertisements, fake investment apps, websites and advised people not to transfer money into unknown bank accounts. If you suspect you have been targeted or have fallen victim to any cyber fraud, immediately report the incident via the toll-free helpline 1930 or by registering a complaint online at www.cybercrime.gov.in.