Cyber fraudsters posing as investment experts, trading advisors and online task operators have cheated three Pune residents of more than ₹1.08 crore in separate cases reported from Kothrud, Bibvewadi and Ambegaon. Police said the cases reflect a growing pattern in which scamsters first build trust through digital platforms and then use fake trading applications, manipulated profit claims and staged emergencies to siphon money from victims.
Fake Investment App Used To Cheat Senior Citizen
A 66-year-old resident of Kothrud lost ₹63.56 lakh in an online investment fraud that took place between April and July 2025. The complaint was registered at the Cyber Police Station on May 11, 2026.
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According to police, the victim received investment-related messages from unknown persons claiming to offer profitable share market opportunities. The fraudsters sent links and persuaded the victim to download an investment application.
After the application was installed, the accused allegedly instructed the victim to purchase shares and transfer money to multiple bank accounts. The transactions continued gradually over several weeks, creating the impression that the money was being invested in genuine market activity.
Police said the fraudsters maintained regular communication to keep the victim confident. Despite repeated investments, the victim did not receive legitimate returns and could not recover the original amount.
Police Inspector Sangeeta Deokate from the Cyber Police Station said cybercriminals are increasingly using fake trading applications and investment platforms that appear professional. She said victims often believe the process is genuine because the interaction continues for weeks or months.
Panic Created Through ‘Cyber Attack’ Claim
In another case registered at Bibvewadi Police Station, a 39-year-old working professional was cheated of ₹32.47 lakh in a share trading fraud between February 26 and April 27, 2026. The complaint was registered on May 11.
Police said the victim was first added to a WhatsApp share trading group where fraudsters presented themselves as market experts and investment advisors. The victim was persuaded to install a trading application and initially invest smaller amounts.
After gaining trust, the accused allegedly told the victim that the trading application had suffered a “cyber attack” and that his investment account needed to be secured urgently. To make the claim appear genuine, they sent two links and guided him through multiple steps.
Believing the instructions to be legitimate, the victim transferred money into different bank accounts under the pretext of protecting and restoring his investment account. Police said he transferred more than ₹32 lakh through multiple transactions, but neither returns nor the original investment were returned.
An officer from Bibvewadi Police Station said fraudsters are now using fake emergencies such as cyber attacks or account freezes to create panic and prevent victims from thinking rationally before transferring money.
Telegram Task Fraud Follows Familiar Pattern
A third case was reported at Ambegaon Police Station, where a 38-year-old individual was allegedly cheated of ₹12.30 lakh in a Telegram task-based fraud between December 11, 2025, and January 12, 2026. The complaint was registered in May 2026.
According to police, the victim was contacted through Telegram and offered online tasks in exchange for money. Initially, the fraudsters assigned small tasks and transferred nominal amounts to the victim’s bank account to build trust.
The accused later introduced higher-value tasks and asked the victim to transfer money to different bank accounts to complete them. The victim continued making payments, expecting larger returns, but the fraudsters stopped communication after receiving significant amounts.
Police Inspector Sharad Zine from Ambegaon Police Station said task-based scams usually begin with small payments to gain confidence before larger deposits are demanded. He advised citizens to avoid any online platform that asks for money to complete tasks.
Authorities said the three cases show a common structure in which victims are approached through WhatsApp, Telegram or online investment messages, then drawn into repeated communication through fake apps, dashboards or groups. Police have urged citizens who face cyber fraud to call the cyber helpline at 1930 and inform their bank immediately.
