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Nowadays, banks have their own AI monitoring systems. People cannot transfer large amounts of money to multiple accounts simultaneously. They need time to distribute and transfer the money.
The delay affects the speed of response in cyber fraud cases. The golden hour is here, but the process needs to move quickly for it to materialize. Image: Canva
Cyber crime cases often emerge after the loss has occurred, when the money has already passed through multiple accounts and recovery becomes almost impossible. But a recent case handled by the Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police shows how timing, coordination and quick reporting can still turn the tide even in high-value frauds.
In this case, the police managed to recover the entire Rs 2.1 crore lost in cyber fraud, which underlines the importance of the “golden hour” in cyber crime reporting by law enforcement and experts.
How did the fraud happen?
The incident involved a financial transaction between Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Group Pharmaceuticals Limited. On November 4, 2025, Dr. Reddy’s transferred Rs 2.1 crore after receiving an official email requesting payment.
Investigators later discovered that fraudsters had intercepted communications between the two companies and sent a fake email resembling the official Group Pharmaceuticals ID. Bank details were changed in the fraudulent message, causing the accounts team to unknowingly transfer funds to the fraudulent account.
The discrepancy was noticed soon after the transfer, following which an immediate internal investigation was initiated.
A 15-minute decision that changed everything
What proved decisive was how quickly the issue was reported. Within about 15 minutes of the transaction, the company contacted the national cyber crime helpline 1930 and alerted the cyber crime unit.
Bengaluru Police immediately traced the funds to a bank account in Ahmedabad and took action to freeze it before dividing the money and moving it through multiple accounts, which is a common laundering tactic in cyber fraud cases.
Since the account was frozen at the time, the police approached the court seeking permission to reverse the transactions. On January 5, 2026, the court ordered the release of the entire Rs 2.1 crore back to Dr. Reddy’s account, resulting in full recovery.
Senior police officers described the case as a clear demonstration of how prompt reporting during golden hours can prevent permanent financial loss.
points to international network
Further investigation revealed that the spoofed email originated from an IP address in Nigeria, indicating cross-border involvement. The beneficiary’s bank account was opened using the identity documents of the 65-year-old woman.
Police are still investigating whether her identity was misused without her consent or whether the account was deliberately provided for fraudulent purposes. The investigation into the wider network is ongoing.
Why does the golden hour still work?
Speaking to News18, Bengaluru-based cyber security expert Dr Shubhamangala Sunil explained why speed remains important in cyber fraud cases.
“Generally, the golden hour in cyber crime or cyber fraud is one to one and a half hours, maximum two hours. If you reach out to the cyber police quickly, and if by then the money has not been transferred to another account, and if the cyber cell acts quickly and the bank responds immediately, then all the money can be recovered. There are a lot of ifs and buts, but that is how it is,” he said.
He said delays often occur when victims first approach local police stations and are then referred to the cyber cell. “That delay affects the speed of the response. The golden time exists, but the process has to move faster for it to work.”
Why banks buy, AI monitoring, and time protection
Bengaluru Police Inspector Arjun CR told News18 that modern banking systems have added an important layer of security.
“Nowadays, banks have their own AI monitoring systems. People cannot transfer large sums of money to multiple accounts instantly. They need time to split the money and transfer it,” he explained.
Because of this delay, the first one to two hours are critical, he said. “One hour is the best time, and maximum two hours can be considered as the golden time in cyber fraud cases. People should immediately call the 1930 helpline and lodge a complaint as soon as they become aware of the fraud. This allows us to stop the flow of money and freeze the account through the bank.”
Fast relief for small amounts
Inspector Arjun also highlighted the recent relief measures for the victims. He said that after a decision of the Karnataka High Court, now in settled cases, an amount of up to Rs 50,000 can be returned directly on the orders of the investigating officer.
“The IO will submit a detailed report and money-flow chart in the court, but victims need not run from pillar to post to recover amounts up to Rs 50,000 after the case is resolved,” he said.
Police officials stressed that recovery from cyber fraud depends less on the size of the fraud and more on how quickly it is reported. Once the money moves to multiple accounts, recovery becomes extremely difficult.
The Bengaluru case stands as a reminder that while cyber crime methods are evolving, rapid reporting, direct access to cyber helplines and coordinated action between police and banks can still stop fraud – if time has not already run out.
21 January 2026, 16:13 IST
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