The cyber cell of UT police has booked unknown persons for allegedly duping a Sector 22, Chandigarh resident of 10 lakh rupees in an online investment scam. Investigators are currently trailing financial transactions to gather clues regarding the accused. No arrests have been made in the case so far.
How Did the Fraudsters Contact the Victim?
According to the complaint filed with the police, the woman was initially added through Facebook to a WhatsApp group named StanChart Sec Zone 13 on December 14, 2025. Several individuals in the group, claiming to be stock market experts, IPO specialists, and institutional investment advisors, continuously shared screenshots of alleged profits and false investment success stories to build trust and entice participants.
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What Credentials Were Used to Gain Trust?
The group administrator, identified as Yalini Guha, introduced herself as an assistant to Professor Gaurav Dua, who purported to own a SEBI-registered company. Guha provided a SEBI registration number alongside purported registered office addresses in Mumbai. She contacted the victim directly via WhatsApp, promising high returns in stock market investments and persuading her to transfer funds. A fake SEBI Certificate of Registration was sent over WhatsApp to establish legal authorization.
How Was the Trading App Utilized?
The victim was instructed to download a mobile trading application designed to closely resemble an official SEBI application. After initially investing a small amount, false profits were displayed within the app, and a small incremental profit was credited to her account to reinforce credibility and encourage further investment.
How Much Money Was Transferred?
Between January 7, 2026, and February 2026, the complainant was coerced into transferring a total of 10 lakh rupees from her savings account into multiple bank accounts supplied by the fraudsters. These transfers were made under the guise of processing fees, allotment charges, and funding subsequent investment phases.
What Happened When the Victim Requested Returns?
When the victim requested details regarding her 10 lakh rupee investment and demanded her money back, the group administrators stopped responding to her queries. She was subsequently threatened and told that her funds had been seized, with fraudsters claiming an additional 40 lakh rupees would need to be deposited to recover her invested funds. Following the threats, she lodged a formal complaint at the Cyber Police Station in Sector 17, providing transaction details that led police to register a case against unknown persons.
