Three residents of Ghaziabad were defrauded of a combined ₹52 lakh in separate cyber scams involving stock market and bitcoin investments, as police launch investigations following formal complaints.
Ghaziabad Sees Major Cyber Fraud Cases
Cyber criminals have struck Ghaziabad, targeting three individuals and collectively siphoning off ₹52 lakh through elaborate digital investment schemes. In one high-value case, Prateek Grover was convinced to invest ₹40 lakh in the stock market on the promise of exceptional returns. Additional cases involved sophisticated targeting of a female lawyer and another resident drawn into a bitcoin investment ruse.
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Stock Market Investment Yields Huge Losses
Prateek Grover, a resident of Indirapuram, fell prey to cyber criminals after applying online to open an equity account. He was contacted and added to a group claiming affiliation with the “Standard Chart India Stock Market Research Institute.” Grover was told investing would yield over 10% returns and was assured his ₹40 lakh investment would grow to ₹2.8 crore. However, after attempting to withdraw money, Grover was informed that ₹28 lakh in taxes would first need to be paid. Realizing something was wrong, he registered a complaint at the Cyber Crime police station.
Lawyer and Bitcoin Schemes Surface
A separate case involved Esha Goel, a lawyer residing in Prateek Grand City. In August, Goel was contacted by an unknown individual and added to a Telegram group. She was persuaded that completing specific tasks and investing ₹5.15 lakh would result in large profits. Attempts to withdraw money failed, and scammers pressured her into depositing additional funds. Distressed, Goel filed a police complaint. Another victim, Yogesh Chauhan of Gulmohar Garden in Rajnagar Extension, reported losing ₹6.68 lakh after being persuaded to invest in bitcoins promising high returns. He was tricked by demands for charges and verification fees, but did not receive any reimbursement.
Police Investigation Underway
Following the formal complaints of all three victims, cases have been registered at the local Cyber Crime police station and investigations are ongoing. The scammers typically promised high returns, pressured victims to deposit more money, and imposed various charges under the pretense of official procedures. Police are now reviewing the complaints and examining transaction details to trace the suspects and prevent further incidents.