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Faridabad police have arrested four men linked to a ₹35.79 lakh scam, in which unsuspecting individuals were lured into fake stock market investments through a sophisticated app and online investor groups.
Police uncover multi-layered scheme involving fake stock market app, forged investor networks, and fake commission payouts.
The Cyber Police of Faridabad’s Central Station have dismantled a fraudulent investment network, arresting four individuals for orchestrating a scam worth over ₹35.79 lakh. The accused allegedly posed as financial advisors and convinced victims to invest in the stock market via a fake trading platform, collecting not just deposits but also commissions for false profits never paid out.
The case emerged after a resident of Puri Pranayam, Sector-85, Faridabad, reported being added to an unknown WhatsApp group in April 2025. The group promoted stock market tips and promised lucrative returns. According to the complaint, the fraudsters offered to guide the victim’s investments and demanded 20% of any profits as commission.
They subsequently sent a link to a bogus trading app, where the victim was prompted to open an account. Lured by frequent updates and manufactured profits displayed on the platform, the complainant deposited ₹35,79,303, and also transferred commissions as instructed. However, no returns were received, and attempts to withdraw the funds were unsuccessful.
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Following the FIR, the Cyber Police launched a targeted investigation. The accused were traced to multiple locations across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The four arrested are:
- Jai Pratap, resident of Mau village, Hathras (U.P.), identified as a key account holder.
- Dron, from Ranhera village in Gautam Buddh Nagar, who received the account from Jai Pratap and passed it along.
- Anil, arrested from Delhi, who operated the final transaction stage.
- Raghav, also from Delhi, believed to be part of the collection and distribution end.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Dron, a labour contractor at Noida Airport, acted as a middleman. Jai Pratap handed his account to Dron, who in turn gave it to Anil. Meanwhile, another accused, Vaibhav (still under investigation), reportedly housed account holders in hotels to maintain secrecy until transactions cleared.
The money trail revealed an organised pattern of opening mule accounts, diverting funds, and laundering the amounts through multiple stages. The accused allegedly operated under the guise of advisory services and online brokerage assistance, using the manipulated app to simulate trading activity.
As of now, Jai Pratap and Dron have been remanded to police custody for eight days, while Anil and Raghav are on a six-day remand. Authorities are tracing other digital footprints, including IP logs, mobile transactions, and third-party app involvement.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.
