A woman from Sector-15, Faridabad, was duped of a staggering Rs 7.59 crore by a chartered accountant who lured her with promises of massive returns through stock market investments. The accused, now in police custody, was arrested following an intensive investigation by Faridabad Police.
The victim, who had been actively trading in the stock market for the past two years, came across a suspicious investment link while scrolling through Facebook on January 4, 2024. The link directed her to a WhatsApp group, where she was enticed by what appeared to be lucrative investment opportunities. Impressed by the promises of high profits, she was soon persuaded to download an unfamiliar trading app and invest Rs 61 lakhs as an initial amount.
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Gaining her trust, the accused convinced her to open another account on a separate platform and continue investing. Over multiple transactions, the fraudster siphoned off Rs 7.59 crore, all of which was funneled into the account of a firm. Investigators later found that Rs 7.55 crore had been deposited into the firm’s account alone.
During the investigation, another individual — Saranakanta from Nagagonda Nahalli village in Bangalore — also a chartered accountant, was arrested for his involvement in the elaborate scheme. The police revealed that the victim was manipulated into creating fake accounts across different platforms and depositing large sums under the guise of stock trading.
The main accused had even filed for anticipatory bail in the High Court, which was subsequently rejected. He is currently in police remand for ten days, during which intensive interrogation is underway. Authorities are hopeful that more leads and accomplices will be uncovered.
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The Faridabad police have termed this case a significant challenge, highlighting the increasing complexity of cyber-enabled financial crimes. So far, 22 individuals have been arrested in similar cases across the city.
Law enforcement officials have issued a strong advisory urging citizens to exercise extreme caution while investing online. They emphasized the importance of using only official, verified trading platforms and warned against falling for unsolicited investment links on social media.
“This case is a reminder that cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods. We will ensure that no fraudster escapes justice,” said a senior police official.
