Agra. A major cyber fraud case has once again exposed how digital investment scams are targeting even educated government employees. In Agra, an inspector working in the Food and Civil Supplies Department has allegedly been cheated of nearly ₹2.06 crore by cyber fraudsters through a carefully planned cryptocurrency investment scam. The case has been registered at the cyber police station, and an investigation is underway.
Facebook Contact Built Trust
The victim, Agam Tej Prakash, a resident of Munna Palace Colony on Devari Road, stated that the fraud began on 9 August 2025 when he received a message on Facebook Messenger from a profile named “Nidhi Sharma.” The conversation initially appeared normal and friendly, but gradually developed into a trusted personal interaction, which later became the foundation of the fraud.
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After building trust on Facebook, the conversation was shifted to WhatsApp, where the accused began promoting cryptocurrency trading as a high-return investment opportunity. They claimed that significant profits could be earned in a short time. To make the scheme appear legitimate, the fraudsters shared fake digital vouchers, charts, and investment performance graphs.
The victim was then added to a WhatsApp group named “Trust Coin Trading,” where several fake investors and administrators were already active. Initially, small investments were made, and fake digital profits were shown to build confidence. Encouraged by these returns, the victim gradually increased the investment amount.
Fake Trading Platform Used
As the investment grew, the fraudsters introduced a fake cryptocurrency trading website that appeared identical to legitimate exchanges but was fully controlled and manipulated. When the victim attempted to withdraw his funds, the process was blocked under the pretext of tax compliance and technical issues.
Later, additional individuals joined the scam. A person claiming to be the father of “Nidhi Sharma” contacted the victim, assuring him of refund assistance while pretending to be innocent. Subsequently, another individual named “Alok” entered the network, claiming to be a crypto expert who could release the blocked funds, but demanded commission and tax payments in advance.
During the scam, the accused also falsely claimed affiliation with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), attempting to give the fraudulent platform a sense of legitimacy. Believing these claims, the victim continued transferring money over a period of eight months.
₹2.06 Crore Transferred
In total, ₹2.06 crore was transferred through multiple bank accounts, UPI IDs, and crypto wallet addresses provided by the fraudsters. Once the payments stopped and withdrawal requests were continuously denied, the accused abruptly cut off all communication.
Upon further verification, the victim discovered that the “profits” displayed on the platform were entirely fake and had no real financial backing or existence. The entire system was designed only to trap and extract money.
The case includes identified accused individuals operating under the names “Nidhi Sharma” and “Alok,” who were central to the fraud network. Authorities are now tracing bank accounts, mobile numbers, UPI transactions, and the IP addresses linked to the fake trading platform.
Digital Trail Under Probe
Officials believe the scam may be part of a larger organized cybercrime network with possible links across multiple states and even international channels. A detailed technical investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend all individuals involved.
