A major case of investment-linked cyber fraud has surfaced in Varanasi, where a local businessman lost ₹42.6 lakh after being promised a profit of ₹1.5 crore through online share trading. The victim had saved the money over several years for his daughter’s upcoming wedding, but scammers used fabricated apps and forged trading statements to siphon off the entire amount.
Caller Posed as Employee of ‘Pure Profit Company’
According to the FIR lodged at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Rishi Ahuja, a resident of Raja Nagar on Vidyapith Road, received a call in February 2025 from a man identifying himself as Aakash Sisodiya. Aakash claimed to be an employee of a Jaipur-based trading firm named Pure Profit Company.
For several days, Aakash shared fake screenshots of impressive profits, gradually convincing Ahuja that the firm operated a special high-return trading programme.
Soon, a second caller—Sameer Upadhyay—joined the conversation, introducing himself as the company’s senior staff member who would “guide” the trading process.
Fake Apps Displayed Artificial Trading Profits
The scammers first persuaded Ahuja to deposit ₹1 lakh into an app called Munjal One Trading. Once the payment was made, Sameer instructed him to install another application—Capital Monk—where fabricated balance sheets, profit graphs and transaction logs were displayed each day.
The victim even received forged trading reports on his email, carefully designed to appear legitimate and to reinforce the illusion of fast-growing investments.
A few weeks later, the scammers claimed that the trading account now reflected ₹1.8 crore in profits. However, before releasing the funds, Ahuja was told he must pay 30% “profit clearance charges”, amounting to nearly ₹35 lakh.
‘Clearance Fees’ Diverted to a Private Bank Account
Instead of directing the funds to an official company account, Ahuja was asked to transfer the amount to the personal savings account of a man named Sachin Namdev.
The scammers said that the Central Depository Services (CDSL) had “blocked” the payout and that the Income Tax Department had not issued clearance—claims designed to pressurise the victim into making urgent payments.
Trusting the narrative, Ahuja made multiple transfers. In all, ₹42.6 lakh was withdrawn through staggered digital transactions.
Reality Exposed When Family Reached Jaipur
Growing suspicious, Ahuja’s son Ishan Ahuja and a relative Vikas Arora travelled to Jaipur to verify the company’s address provided by the scammers.
What they discovered confirmed the worst—there was no office, no signage and no evidence that the so-called Pure Profit Company ever existed. This made it clear that the entire operation had been orchestrated by an organised cyber fraud network.
“This Was Saved for My Daughter’s Wedding”
A devastated Ahuja told the police that the defrauded money represented years of disciplined savings for his daughter’s marriage. He realised he had been manipulated only after the company’s existence itself proved to be fictitious.
Police Begin Technical Probe; Digital Footprints Under Review
Cyber Crime Inspector Gopalji Kushwaha said a formal case has been registered and a dedicated technical team has begun an extensive probe. Investigators are analysing:
- The architecture and hosting of the fake apps
- Banking transaction trails across accounts
- Digital footprints of the fraudulent company
- Phone numbers, devices and email IDs used
Officials suspect this is part of a larger, coordinated cyber investment racket that lures investors through social-media ads, cold calls and scripted presentations.
