‘Sophisticated fraud’: Impersonators target academics and private universities with lure of government grants
Mumbai: Academics have become the latest targets of a sophisticated fraud scheme. Impersonators claiming affiliations with leading Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are approaching professors and universities with offers to collaborate on high-value projects falsely presented as being backed by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The fraudsters ask for an upfront part payment, framed as necessary to secure the collaboration and unlock funding, which is to be routed through an escrow account. Many of the targets belong to private universities.
The Nature of the Fraud
The ANRF is known for its formal and secure processes for collaborations, and it is important to note that they do not require any advance payments. An advisory is expected to be issued soon, urging academics and institutions to remain vigilant against such fraudulent activities.
On Sunday, G D Yadav, the former vice-chancellor of ICT Mumbai, sent out an alert about this fraud to fellow academicians. Many senior professors and heads of institutions who received his alert reported similar messages.
Modus Operandi
Yadav explained that the impersonators claim that the proposals are grant-backed and linked to ongoing ANRF schemes, insisting that 2.5% of the project value be transferred to an escrow account, often with a deadline that falls over the weekend. “No legitimate IIT or ANRF process would require advance payments to secure grants or partnerships,” Yadav stated, urging institutions not to engage or transfer funds and to verify all such communications through official channels.
V Ramgopal Rao, group vice-chancellor of BITS-Pilani, also received a message recently from someone claiming to be from IIT-Delhi’s computer science department, seeking to discuss a funded project worth Rs 24 crore sanctioned in his name. “When I asked him to send a message from his official address, he vanished,” Rao noted. “This is now becoming like those digital arrest frauds. Many have received such calls it seems.”
Creating Credibility
The modus operandi of these fraudsters appears to be calibrated to create a credible appearance. The callers reportedly use names of known faculty members from leading institutions and refer to current ANRF calls, giving the impression that the offer is both authentic and time-sensitive. They even share project abstracts, one of which involved a proposal for a “next-generation AI-driven autonomous surveillance and response network for strategic border infrastructure and threat neutralization.”
With ANRF pushing for collaborative research and partnerships between leading institutions and others, such proposals can appear plausible, particularly to institutions keen to scale up their research.
Institutional Response
A central government official stated that the ANRF processes and controls are robust and functioning well. Institutions must regularly audit their expenditures and strengthen internal safeguards. “Additionally, nodal officers from the institutions are being alerted to remain vigilant. An advisory is likely to be issued in the coming week urging academics to be cautious,” the official added.
According to Yadav, private universities are especially being targeted. “Many are looking to build collaborations with elite institutes to improve their standing in national rankings such as the National Institutional Ranking Framework, making them more receptive to such pitches,” he explained. The fraudster is believed to be approaching promoters or senior management, those who may have the authority to approve large financial commitments, rather than routing proposals through formal academic processes.
Past Incidents
Yadav mentioned that the approach initially seemed plausible even to him until he verified the claims with contacts at IIT-Bombay and discovered they were false. He added that even experienced individuals can be taken in if due diligence is not exercised.
A similar fraud succeeded last year in Pune when MIT-World Peace University was duped of around Rs 2.5 crore in a proposal that cited a Rs 100-crore grant. Rahul Karad, executive president of MIT-World Peace University, emphasized the need for educational institutions and government agencies to take serious cognizance of such fraudulent activities. “With foreign universities entering the country, such frauds risk tarnishing our reputation globally,” he warned. “We transferred the money only after getting a credible referral. Later, during the investigation, we learned that the impostor even held a PhD degree, which may have made the approach seem credible. The police later helped us recover most of the amount,” he added, noting that every piece of paperwork appeared genuine.
Advice for Academics
Academics have been advised to treat requests involving advance payments, urgency, and the use of institutional names without verifiable official email addresses as red flags. They are encouraged to report such incidents to the police and to exercise caution when dealing with unsolicited offers.
Conclusion
The rise of sophisticated fraud targeting academics and private universities highlights the need for vigilance and due diligence in the academic community. As institutions continue to seek collaborations to enhance their research capabilities, they must remain alert to potential scams that could undermine their integrity and financial stability.
Note: The information provided in this article is based on recent reports and should be verified through official channels before taking any action.
