Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh: A trader from Aligarh allegedly lost ₹18.74 lakh after being contacted by a woman following his online search for business-related information and contact numbers. The woman and her associates allegedly promised him substantial profits through a business opportunity and gradually persuaded him to transfer money into multiple bank accounts.
The fraud reportedly came to light when the trader sought the return of his investment and promised profits, only to be allegedly asked to deposit another ₹5 lakh.
Trader Contacted After Searching For Business Opportunities
The complainant, identified as Satish Saini of Malipura village under the Khair police station area, was reportedly searching Google for business-related information and contact numbers as he explored ways to expand his business.
According to his complaint, he subsequently received a call from an unknown mobile number. A woman allegedly introduced a business opportunity and told him that associating with a company could help him earn substantial profits.
The promise of high returns allegedly convinced Satish to continue communicating with the woman and her associates.
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₹18.74 Lakh Transferred Into Multiple Accounts
After gaining his confidence, the alleged fraudsters reportedly instructed Satish to transfer money into different bank accounts as part of the proposed business arrangement.
According to the complaint, he made multiple transfers between August 5 and September 1, eventually depositing approximately ₹18.74 lakh.
He was allegedly assured that the money would generate profits and that his investment would later be returned.
However, after making the payments, Satish reportedly did not receive either his investment or the promised profits.
Additional ₹5 Lakh Demand Raises Suspicion
When Satish contacted the people who had approached him and asked for his money to be returned, they allegedly demanded another ₹5 lakh.
The additional payment request reportedly made him suspicious of the arrangement. He then realised that the business opportunity and high-profit promises could allegedly have been part of a fraudulent scheme.
Instead of making the additional payment, he approached the cyber police and filed a complaint.
Police Trace Bank Accounts And Mobile Numbers
Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against unidentified cybercriminals under relevant legal provisions.
Investigators are examining the bank accounts into which the ₹18.74 lakh was transferred to determine who operated them and where the money went after the initial deposits.
The mobile numbers allegedly used to contact Satish are also being examined. Police are attempting to identify the woman who allegedly made the initial call and other individuals who may have been involved.
Money Trail May Reveal Wider Network
Investigators are expected to trace the movement of the funds after they entered the identified bank accounts. Authorities are also examining whether the accounts were being used to receive proceeds from similar cyber frauds.
The investigation will look at the identities of account holders, callers and other individuals who may have helped collect or transfer the money.
Police are also examining whether other people may have been targeted using a similar business-profit scheme.
High-Profit Business Offers Used As Bait
Online business and investment scams can begin with unsolicited calls, messages or offers promising unusually high returns. Fraudsters may initially present an opportunity as a legitimate business arrangement and then gradually demand payments at different stages.
Additional demands can later be presented as fees for releasing profits, processing withdrawals or completing supposed formalities.
In this case, the alleged demand for another ₹5 lakh after ₹18.74 lakh had already been transferred became a key warning sign for the trader and prompted him to approach the authorities.
What This Means For You: Unsolicited business offers promising unusually high profits should be treated with caution, especially when the person making the offer asks for repeated transfers into different bank accounts. A demand for additional money to release supposed profits or return an investment is another major warning sign of potential fraud.
The420 Insight: The case shows how online searches can become the starting point for targeted fraud when scammers quickly establish contact and build trust around a seemingly legitimate business opportunity. The most important part of the investigation now will be following the ₹18.74-lakh financial trail to determine whether the accused were part of a larger network.
About the author — Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
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