New Delhi: A retired school principal from Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district allegedly lost ₹9.46 lakh in an online investment scam after being lured by a high-return advertisement on Facebook Reels. Police have registered a cyber fraud case against unidentified accused and launched an investigation into the financial transactions and digital trail.
According to the complaint, Balwant Ghadle, a resident of Borda village in Warora tehsil, came across an investment advertisement on Facebook Reels in October 2025 promising exceptionally high returns. After submitting his personal details through the linked platform, he was allegedly contacted by a person identifying himself as “Ayan Pranav.”
The complainant alleged that he was initially asked to pay ₹22,020 as a membership fee. Subsequently, the accused allegedly persuaded him to invest additional amounts by promising higher profits. Over multiple transactions, he transferred ₹44,200 and later ₹8.80 lakh through RTGS into different bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
Police said the accused allegedly gained the victim’s confidence by using an investment application identified as “9 Pro,” which displayed increasing investment returns and account balances. However, when the complainant attempted to withdraw his investment in November 2025, the transaction failed. He later discovered that the balance in the application had dropped to zero, prompting him to suspect that he had been defrauded.
Following the incident, the victim lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. After reportedly receiving no satisfactory resolution, he approached the Warora Police Station, where a formal case was registered.
Police have registered an FIR against unidentified accused under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which relate to identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resources.
Investigators are examining the bank accounts that received the funds, the digital infrastructure used to operate the alleged investment platform, and the identities of those involved in the fraud. Authorities are also attempting to trace the movement of the money and determine whether the accused are linked to a larger organised cyber fraud network.
Cyber security experts have advised the public to avoid investment schemes promoted through social media that promise unusually high or guaranteed returns. They recommend verifying the authenticity of investment platforms, avoiding sharing personal or financial information through suspicious links, and conducting due diligence before transferring money to unknown entities.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
