In yet another alarming case of cyber fraud targeting unsuspecting citizens, a retired professor from Andhra Pradesh lost nearly ₹2 crore after falling prey to a sophisticated online investment scam run through WhatsApp. The incident highlights the growing menace of organized cybercrime exploiting social media and messaging platforms to dupe victims.
The Scam That Began With a WhatsApp Invite
Dr. M. Batmanabane Mounissamy, a former director and professor at the prestigious Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, was added to a WhatsApp group named ‘H‑10 Nuvama Health Group’ in April. The group claimed to offer insider financial tips and guidance.
Since Dr. Mounissamy already had investments with the genuine Nuvama Funds (formerly Edelweiss), the WhatsApp group’s professional branding and investment jargon led him to believe it was affiliated with the legitimate firm. This partial familiarity was key to lowering his defenses.
Small Profits, Big Trap
A woman named “Kangana” soon messaged him privately, claiming to represent Nuvama, and guided him to a fraudulent website mimicking the real company’s platform. Dr. Mounissamy made an initial investment of ₹10,000 and was promptly shown a return of ₹13,000 — a classic tactic scammers use to gain a victim’s trust.
Encouraged by the apparent success, the professor made progressively larger investments over the following weeks. By late May, he had transferred ₹1.9 crore into what he believed were high-yield portfolios. The fake platform even displayed a fabricated ₹35 crore profit in his account dashboard.
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The Withdrawal That Never Came
When Dr. Mounissamy attempted to withdraw ₹5 crore, he was informed he needed to pay a hefty ₹32 lakh “processing fee,” which scammers later reduced to 25 per cent of the withdrawal amount. Desperate to recover his investment, he paid an additional ₹7.9 lakh — but the promised payout never materialized.
Further conversations with another fraudster posing as a senior executive, “Ashish Kehair,” brought no relief. Realizing he had been duped after repeated delays and fresh demands, the professor filed a police complaint on June 18.
A Growing Menace in India’s Digital Space
Cybercrime experts say this case is part of a disturbing trend where fraudsters exploit messaging apps like WhatsApp to orchestrate elaborate scams. By creating convincing groups and leveraging victims’ existing connections with legitimate brands, these schemes often appear credible to educated, financially literate individuals.
Authorities have reiterated warnings against trusting unsolicited investment advice and emphasized the need for greater digital vigilance. “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” a senior cybercrime officer reminded.
The police have launched an investigation and are working to trace the culprits and recover the lost funds. In the meantime, citizens are being urged to verify every investment opportunity through official company channels and avoid responding to unknown online contacts.