In what is suspected to be prank or an act of vengeance, an unidentified person hacked into the database of Anna University’s Centre for Technology Development and Transfer (CTDT) and sent hoax emails claiming an international conference scheduled to commence on Monday, had been cancelled.
Many scholars, especially those based abroad, dropped out taking the mail for real, and uncertainty prevailed regarding the event.
Sources with the University revealed that the two-day annual conference organised by CTDT was scheduled to be attended by over 200 delegates from the United States, Australia, various European and Asian countries, in addition to India. The CTDT had begun sending out email invites for the conference last month.
A few days ago, much to their surprise, CTDT staff received enquiries on why the conference had been abruptly cancelled. Soon, they found out about an email, seemingly from the centre itself, stating that the two-day meet had been cancelled and the invitees who had booked air tickets will receive a full refund.
Many foreign delegates allegedly cancelled the trips, driving the two-day annual event to the brink of cancellation. University officials, including CTDT director S. Kanmani, had to work overtime to inform invitees about the confusion as part of attempts to re-invite them.
Authorities approached the city police and a probe is under way. Investigators believe it is the work of an insider. The conference scheduled for Monday and Tuesday is to be held as announced.
