A 40-year-old computer dealer from Opera House has fallen prey to a cryptocurrency investment scam, losing ₹1 crore to fraudsters who orchestrated an elaborate scheme using multiple mobile numbers and fake testimonials. The victim, a resident of Thakurdwar, filed a delayed complaint earlier this month, leading to a formal case registration on Friday following police verification.
According to the complaint, the victim was initially contacted via Telegram by an unknown profile named Juliaanna. The message outlined a series of lucrative cryptocurrency trading schemes and included a link to a WhatsApp group purportedly offering further investment insights.
Upon joining the group chat, the victim encountered an overwhelming flood of messages from various individuals, all praising the group administrator for their investment guidance, claiming to have earned substantial profits through the shared tips. Investigators believe that the fraudsters used multiple mobile numbers to post these messages, creating an illusion of credibility and success to lure unsuspecting investors.
A police official stated that the victim, convinced by the fabricated success stories, proceeded to invest ₹1,00,02,600 over a four-month period between March and August 2024. The transactions were carried out through a mobile application that the fraudsters had instructed him to download.
Initially, the app displayed promising returns, reflecting significant profits. However, when the victim attempted to withdraw his earnings, he discovered that he could not access even his principal investment. Realizing that he had been defrauded, he approached the South Cyber Police for assistance.
Following an investigation, the Cyber Cell registered a case against unidentified individuals under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for cheating, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution while engaging in online investment schemes and to verify the legitimacy of such platforms before committing funds. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement agencies work to trace the culprits behind the elaborate scam.
