Bengaluru. In a fresh wave of online financial fraud cases, two employees of private firms in Bengaluru have collectively lost nearly ₹2.6 crore in separate but similar investment scams, highlighting the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled financial crimes.
Task App Scam Costs Victim ₹1.21 Crore
In one of the cases, a 38-year-old employee from HBR Layout allegedly lost ₹1.21 crore after being trapped in a task-based investment scam that operated through a mobile application and messaging platforms over an extended period. According to the complaint, the victim initially received a WhatsApp message in January 2024 containing a link to an app that promised commissions for completing simple online tasks.
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The victim, who resides in Brindavan Nagar, was gradually encouraged to invest small amounts ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹50,000. The application reportedly displayed consistent “returns” on these small investments, creating an illusion of legitimacy. Encouraged by the apparent profits, the victim continued investing larger sums over time. Between January 2024 and May 2026, he allegedly transferred a total of ₹1,21,99,000 into multiple bank accounts provided through the platform.
Police said the victim believed the platform was genuine due to the consistent profit display on the app dashboard. However, when he attempted to withdraw his funds, he was unable to access the money and realised he had been cheated. A complaint has been filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and the East CEN Crime Police Station has registered a case. Investigators are now examining the digital trail and linked bank accounts.
Fake Profit Dashboards Used
Authorities have once again warned the public against apps and platforms offering unusually high returns for completing basic online tasks, stating that such schemes are increasingly being used by cybercriminals to trap victims through psychological manipulation and staged profit displays.
In a separate but similar case, another Bengaluru resident allegedly lost ₹1.39 crore in a sophisticated forex trading scam conducted through Telegram channels and fraudulent trading websites. The victim reportedly came into contact with an individual identifying herself as Nisha Sharma on Telegram in April and was persuaded to invest in forex trading.
According to the complaint, the victim was first guided to invest small amounts, after which he was shown inflated profits on a fake trading dashboard. Over time, he was convinced to invest increasingly large sums, eventually putting in about ₹1.39 crore. The trading platform allegedly displayed a fake balance of nearly ₹4.5 crore, including purported profits.
Withdrawal Demand Raised Suspicion
However, when the victim attempted to withdraw the money, he was informed that an additional ₹92.5 lakh had to be paid as “income tax” before processing the withdrawal. This demand raised suspicion, leading the complainant to conclude that the entire setup was fraudulent.
Investigators believe that both cases reflect a growing pattern of cyber fraud where scammers use social media platforms, fake investment applications, and fabricated profit dashboards to build trust over time. Victims are gradually pushed to invest larger sums before being blocked from withdrawals or asked to pay additional charges.
Cyber Police Track Money Trail
Cybercrime officials have reiterated that genuine investment platforms do not demand advance payments for withdrawal or promise fixed high returns on short-term tasks. They have urged users to verify platforms before investing and avoid responding to unsolicited investment offers received through messaging apps.
Officials are continuing their investigation into both cases, tracking financial transactions and digital footprints to identify the wider network behind these scams.
