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Cyber fraudsters targeting individuals under the guise of stock market and quick return investments have adopted Telegram as their primary tool across Bihar. Victims are added to unfamiliar chat groups without their consent and enticed with attractive schemes, expert advice, and fabricated profit statements. Once the fraudsters gain the victim’s confidence, money is collected in multiple instalments. As soon as the total collection reaches a substantial sum, the administrators delete the entire group. This instant disappearance erases critical traces of communication, leaving investigators with an uphill task in tracking suspects and recovering lost capital.
Vanishing Groups Destroy Crucial Digital Evidence
The deletion of messaging channels removes the group entirely from the chat lists of all members. Along with the group itself, past conversations, promotional texts, investment advisories, and administrative notices vanish permanently from the victims’ phones. Many victims cannot even recall the exact name of the group to which they were added. Consequently, formal complaints often lack essential digital leads such as the group title, administrative phone numbers, and shared account links. Investigators face severe delays because the absence of initial digital evidence weakens the case right from the start. Identifying suspicious bank accounts, linked mobile numbers, and tracking financial flows becomes significantly more complicated.
Over Eighteen Crore Lost Across Messaging Platforms
Data released by the Cyber Crime and Security Unit underscores the expanding footprint of this operation over the past year. Telegram alone accounted for the highest volume, with 821 reported cases of investment fraud leading to losses of about 5.73 crore rupees. WhatsApp was exploited in 484 cases, resulting in a substantially higher loss of 12.67 crore rupees. Combined, the two platforms represented 1,305 complaints and total fraudulent transactions exceeding 18.40 crore rupees.
Other Digital Channels Funnel Victims Into Chat Traps
The scam relies on a coordinated multi-channel approach beyond messaging applications. Fraudulent investment campaigns and high-return promises are widely advertised on social media networks like Facebook and Instagram. Unsuspecting users who respond to these advertisements are redirected to WhatsApp or Telegram channels to complete the fraud. Records indicate that 320 complaints involved phone calls and text messages, amounting to losses of 5.01 crore rupees. Fraudulent websites and mobile application links led to 209 cases with losses of 4.88 crore rupees. In addition, Facebook was linked to 44 complaints involving 2.32 crore rupees, while Instagram accounted for 92 cases involving 35.66 lakh rupees.
The Cyber Crime and Security Unit has advised the public to avoid investment advice offered inside unauthorized messaging groups. Citizens should refrain from downloading unverified applications and verify companies through certified financial channels before sending funds. Victims are urged to contact the national cyber helpline at 1930 or lodge an immediate complaint on the national cyber crime portal, as early reporting improves the chances of freezing stolen funds in bank accounts before they are siphoned off.
