Scammer posed as a Juhu-based entrepreneur; lured victim to a fake trading platform with screenshots of fabricated profits. Over 10 months, the official transferred ₹1.24 crore—now all funds blocked.
A senior manager from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has become the latest victim of an elaborate cyber fraud, losing ₹1.24 crore after responding to what initially appeared to be a harmless WhatsApp message—“Hi Simran.”
Investigators say the 56-year-old official, Brijpal Singh, interacted with the fraudster for nearly ten months, convinced that he was speaking to a Mumbai-based businesswoman who not only befriended him but gradually steered the conversations toward “high-return” investment opportunities.
A Wrong Number, a Casual Reply—and the Trap Began
The deception began in January 2025, when Singh received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number addressed to someone named Simran. Singh politely informed the sender that the number was incorrect.
What followed was a series of casual, friendly exchanges that soon turned into routine chats. The impersonator introduced herself as Divya Sharma, an entrepreneur residing in Juhu, Mumbai, claiming to run a trading and export venture named Zillion Exports.
With a consistent tone of professionalism and warmth, the impostor slowly won Singh’s confidence.
From Personal Chats to Investment Advice
By late January, the conversation shifted. ‘Divya’ began asking about Singh’s income and financial plans. When he hesitated, she presented what she described as a “safe, alternative investment route”—a trading platform allegedly used by high-net-worth individuals: Golden Bridge Investment.
Assured that the platform had “risk-proof algorithms,” Singh decided to test it with a ₹40,000 initial deposit. Within hours, the app displayed fabricated profits. ‘Divya’ reinforced the illusion by sending screenshots of her supposed trading account, claiming to have generated ₹23 lakh in his name.
The strategy worked. Singh’s faith in this newly formed connection deepened.
Ten Months, Dozens of Transfers, ₹1.24 Crore Lost
Between February and November 2025, Singh made frequent transfers to various bank accounts shared by ‘Divya’, finally reaching a total of ₹1,24,44,339.76.
Each payment was justified through carefully scripted persuasion:
- “Bigger capital will fast-track your returns,”
- “Your profits are compounding,”
- “We will withdraw together once the target is reached.”
By April 2025, Singh attempted to withdraw a portion of his funds. The platform showed his investment value had surged to ₹2.24 crore. But when he initiated the withdrawal, he was told to pay 30% tax on gains before the funds could be released.
Believing the enormous returns were legitimate, he complied—unaware that every new deposit disappeared directly into fraudulent accounts.
Contact Breaks, Website Locks, Realisation Hits
Shortly after his final payment, ‘Divya’ stopped responding. Calls went unanswered; WhatsApp messages showed no blue ticks. The trading platform also became inaccessible.
Only then did Singh realise that the woman, the company, the trading portal—everything—had been part of a precisely engineered fraud operation.
Cyber Cell Registers Case, Probes Wider Network
On Monday, the Noida Cyber Crime Unit registered an FIR under:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 318(4) – Cheating
- BNS Section 319(2) – Cheating by personation
- Relevant provisions of the IT Act
Technical teams are analysing:
- The backend architecture of the Golden Bridge Investment platform
- Recipient bank accounts and transaction chains
- Mobile numbers and communication logs
- The authenticity of Zillion Exports
- IP addresses, VPN routes, and cloud hosting trails
Officials believe the scam may be linked to an organised interstate cyber network operating from multiple locations.
A Fast-Growing Fraud Pattern: Wrong-Number Bonding, Then Investment Luring
Police say this case reflects a rapidly spreading scam model in India, where cybercriminals:
- Initiate contact through a “wrong number” message
- Build rapport over weeks
- Create a persona of financial success
- Present a fake trading platform
- Show manipulated profit dashboards
- Extract deposits in phases until the victim collapses financially
Authorities warn that such psychological manipulation often targets middle-aged and salaried individuals with savings.
