Pune City Police’s Cyber Crime investigators have successfully re-arrested 21-year-old Saniya Mustakim Siddique, a key suspect in a massive Rs4 crore whale phishing scam. Siddique, who was initially arrested in Faridabad in February, had escaped police custody while being transported to Pune and had been on the run ever since.
Saniya Mustakim Siddique was arrested in the second week of February in connection with a whale phishing scam that targeted a Pune-based builder. After a detailed technical analysis of phone numbers and bank accounts used in the attack, Siddique was identified as a major player in the scheme. The scammers had used sophisticated tactics to trick the realtor, resulting in a loss of Rs4 crore.
On February 18, while being escorted back to Pune on the Duronto Express, Siddique managed to escape from custody at Kota station in Rajasthan. Her absence was only discovered at the next station, prompting a massive manhunt.
Despite the initial setback, Pune Police’s Cyber Crime team continued their search and eventually tracked her down in a village in Bihar. Using disguises and covert tactics, the police successfully captured her while she attempted to flee by jumping from the roof of a house.
Siddique, along with her accomplices, had been part of a well-organized scam network involved in several high-profile phishing attacks. She is currently in police custody, and further investigations are underway to uncover the full scope of her involvement and to identify other potential victims.
