“Inside Job Exposed” – How Cats Eye Uncovered a ₹2.3 Crore Corporate Fraud Hidden in Plain Sight

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Client Overview

- Client: Confidential (Privately Held Manufacturing Company)
- Location: Eastern India (Headquartered in Kolkata)
- Industry: Industrial Equipment Manufacturing
- Business Size: Mid-Sized Enterprise (150+ Employees)

Background & Context

In early 2024, Cats Eye, a reputed private detective agency in Kolkata, was retained by the top management of a mid-sized industrial equipment manufacturing company. Over a span of several quarters, internal audits had flagged unexplained cost escalations, irregular vendor payments, and suspicious procurement behaviors.

Despite routine financial reviews, the internal team lacked the tools and neutrality to investigate further. Concerns about internal collusion between employees and vendors were growing. The management required a discreet, independent, and evidence-driven corporate fraud investigation to protect company interests before taking any formal steps.

Scope of Investigation

Following a confidential onboarding discussion, Cats Eye devised a structured investigative blueprint spanning 21 working days. Every action was aligned with regulatory compliance, non-disruption of daily operations, and complete confidentiality.

1. Background Verification

Conducted discreet profiling of finance and procurement team members
Identified behavioral red flags and lifestyle discrepancies in two senior procurement officers

2. Digital Forensic Analysis

Forensically examined professional email accounts and system logs
Uncovered patterns of indirect communication with a flagged external vendor
Retrieved deleted files and metadata using proprietary recovery tools

3. Vendor Due Diligence

Verified GST numbers, office premises, and business legitimacy of six active vendors
Detected two shell vendors traced back to a relative of a procurement officer

4. Covert Surveillance & Undercover Operations

Deployed an undercover operative as a logistics assistant
Collected audio-visual proof of bribe transactions and delivery manipulation
Mapped daily movement and office-level interactions with external agents

Key Findings

Total embezzlement of approx. ₹2.3 crore (USD ~$275,000) over 18 months through inflated invoicing and payments to shell companies
Confirmed collusion between two senior internal employees and an external party
Fake vendor entities created under false identities to siphon corporate funds
Communication trails, financial transactions, and lifestyle expenditures consistent with ongoing fraud

A structured evidence dossier was compiled, which included:

Time-stamped video and photographic surveillance
Vendor verification reports
Extracted digital communications and transaction logs
Forensic summaries of employee-device interactions

Outcome & Impact

Equipped with factual evidence, the client was able to:

Execute immediate termination of involved employees under proper disciplinary procedures
File a criminal complaint and initiate recovery through legal counsel
Prevent further loss by restructuring the procurement approval workflow
Enhance internal controls using risk-based vendor screening and audit protocols

Most critically, the company regained control over its internal operations, sending a strong message of zero tolerance for fraud.

Client Feedback

“Cats Eye delivered what internal audits could not—irrefutable truth backed by evidence. Their approach was strategic, confidential, and results-driven. We now have tighter governance and stronger vendor protocols thanks to their work.”
— CFO, Confidential Manufacturing Client

Conclusion

This case underscores the indispensable value of professional investigative support in addressing corporate misconduct. Cats Eye remains a trusted investigative partner for enterprises seeking truth, transparency, and tactical resolution of white-collar fraud.

With a proven track record in Corporate Fraud Investigation, Cats Eye continues to assist organizations in identifying financial irregularities, ensuring compliance, and protecting their business integrity—discreetly and decisively.