The North Cyber Crime Division police have cracked a series of email scam cases reported in the city and arrested a 30-year-old software engineer who allegedly used her technical knowledge to hack into her boyfriend’s email account and implicate him in fake cases as an act of revenge.
The accused, identified as Rene Joshilda, a resident of Airport Road, Chennai in Tamil Nadu, was traced to Ahmedabad Jail where she is currently lodged in connection with a similar offence.
According to BS Nemagoud, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (North Division), who oversaw the investigation, Rene has a BE degree in electrical engineering and was earlier working in a Bengaluru-based private company. She was found to be involved in seven cases in Bengaluru, one in Gujarat and one in Tamil Nadu.
Investigation revealed that while working in Bengaluru, Rene developed a relationship with a technician. After their breakup, she decided to take revenge and frame him for criminal proceedings.
Using her technical skills, she created multiple virtual identities through VPN services and the Gatecode app, used virtual mobile numbers and operated from seven fake email accounts. She allegedly hacked into his email IDs and sent fraudulent emails to several schools across Bengaluru, raising alarm and prompting the police to intervene.
The police started an investigation based on a complaint lodged by a public school in Kalasipalya on June 14 after receiving one such threatening email. Using digital forensics, the investigation team traced the origin of the messages and traced them to the accused.
Rene was taken to Bengaluru on a body warrant for further questioning and investigation.
Published – 06 Nov 2025 21:31 IST
