A Kanpur man allegedly lost ₹14.28 lakh after an unknown woman befriended him on WhatsApp, introduced him to Bitcoin investment and moved him into a Telegram group promising quick profits.
The victim, Omprakash Tiwari of Pashupati Nagar in Kanpur’s Naubasta area, told police that the interaction began on August 19. A woman identifying herself as Riya Gupta contacted him from an unknown WhatsApp number and gradually gained his confidence.
The conversations later shifted towards cryptocurrency investment.
Tiwari was allegedly added to a Telegram group called “Coin TRS Transaction”, where members appeared to discuss Bitcoin trading and profitable investments. The presentation of successful trades allegedly made the operation appear genuine.
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A ₹10,000 investment allegedly became the bait
On August 21, Tiwari initially transferred ₹10,000 for what he believed was a Bitcoin investment.
Soon afterwards, he was allegedly shown a balance of around ₹13,000. The apparent ₹3,000 profit became the crucial trust-building moment.
Once the first transaction appeared successful, the accused allegedly encouraged him to invest larger amounts.
Tiwari eventually transferred money into several bank accounts provided by the people operating the scheme. Around ₹5 lakh was also sent through RTGS from his wife’s bank account.
By the time the payments stopped, he had allegedly transferred a total of ₹14.28 lakh.
The scheme began to unravel when he tried to withdraw the money and the profits displayed to him.
Instead of releasing the funds, the people controlling the alleged investment operation demanded another payment in the name of tax. Further investment was also sought.
Repeated demands for additional money made Tiwari suspicious. He subsequently approached Naubasta Police, where a case was registered.
Police and the cyber cell are now examining the mobile numbers, bank accounts and transaction records allegedly connected to the fraud.
Why fake profits are so effective
This type of fraud works because criminals do not always begin by asking for lakhs of rupees.
They may first allow a small investment or display a modest profit. In some scams, victims are even allowed to withdraw a small amount.
That early success changes the victim’s perception of risk.
A ₹10,000 payment that appears to become ₹13,000 can look like evidence that the trading system works. But the number shown on a Telegram message, website or fake investment dashboard may have no connection to an actual Bitcoin purchase.
Similar cases have appeared repeatedly across India.
In Bhopal, a senior advocate lost ₹78.25 lakh after scammers allegedly showed him an initial profit before persuading him to invest more. When he later sought a withdrawal, they demanded another ₹65 lakh as tax.
A Visakhapatnam cryptocurrency case followed almost the same script. Victims were shown apparent returns after small deposits, encouraged to increase their investments and later asked to pay taxes and charges when they attempted to withdraw.
The similarity is important because the “profit” is often not the reward. It is the bait.
How the WhatsApp-to-Telegram investment trap works
Fake investment networks frequently divide the operation into different stages.
One person may make the initial approach and build a personal relationship. Another may act as an investment adviser, while a Telegram group provides apparent proof that other investors are making money.
That group can create powerful social pressure.
Messages showing large profits, screenshots of successful withdrawals and enthusiastic comments from supposed investors can make a fraudulent operation look busy and legitimate. Some of these accounts may actually be controlled by members of the same criminal network.
Official cybercrime guidance warns that scammers use WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and other platforms to promote fake stock-market and cryptocurrency investments with unusually high returns.
The final stage often appears when the victim wants the money back.
Fraudsters may suddenly demand income tax, processing fees, account-unlocking charges, verification payments or additional deposits. The victim is told that one final payment will release the entire balance.
It usually does not.
In a Chandigarh case, a victim initially received a profit after investing ₹10,999 and later transferred more than ₹15 lakh. When he sought his money back, the alleged scammers demanded an additional ₹2.44 lakh as a verification fee.
For Kanpur investigators, the key task will now be following the ₹14.28 lakh.
The receiving accounts may reveal whether the money remained with one operator or was rapidly split and transferred through other accounts. Phone records and Telegram activity could also help establish whether the woman who contacted Tiwari was acting alone or formed part of a larger network.
What this means for you: Never treat profits displayed inside a Telegram group, investment website or app as proof that your money has actually been invested. If an unknown person approaches you with a crypto opportunity and later demands tax or fees to release your own money, stop paying and report the transaction immediately through 1930 and the national cybercrime portal.
The420 Insight: The most effective part of these scams is often psychological rather than technical. Criminals do not need to convince victims to risk ₹14 lakh on day one; they only need to make the first ₹10,000 appear profitable enough for the victim to convince himself.
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