The cybercrime police have formed a special team to track down the source of a threatening email that was sent to IT behemoth Wipro on Friday. The city-based company had received an email stating that 1 kg of the deadly toxin ricin would be released in its offices in the city if the firm failed to pay ₹500 crore in Bitcoins within 20 days.
A link for payment was provided in the mail, sent from the address ‘ramesh2@protonmail.com’. Ricin is a highly toxic lectin found in the seeds of the castor oil plant. Instructing the company not to approach the police, the sender stated that the toxin would be put in the cafeteria food, on toilet seats and even on the toilet paper.
On Friday itself, Wipro filed a complaint with the cybercrime police, enclosing a copy of the email. S. Ravi, Additional Commissioner of Police, said the police were now verifying the details of the links in the email.
Meanwhile, Wipro officials confirmed receipt of an anonymous email threatening a massive attack on its offices in Bengaluru if it did not pay a ransom. In a statement, the management said: “Wipro confirms that it has filed a complaint with the local law enforcement authorities after receiving a threatening letter from an unidentified source. Wipro has augmented security measures at all its office locations. There is no impact on the company’s operations. We have no further comments as the investigation is ongoing.”
