Panaji: A major investment fraud worth ₹2.48 crore has come to light in Goa, where authorities have registered a case against four individuals accused of duping investors through fraudulent schemes. Acting on a complaint filed by a local resident, officials dealing with economic offences have initiated a probe, treating the matter as a case of organised financial crime. Efforts are underway to arrest the accused and freeze their assets.
The accused have been identified as Tarun Trikha and Rahul Khurana from Delhi, Ravi Shankar Thakur from Navi Mumbai, and Rahul Jadhav from Thane. Preliminary investigations suggest that the group operated in a coordinated manner, enticing investors with promises of high returns and mobilising large sums of money through unregulated deposit schemes.
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Fabricated Credibility and Early Payouts
According to the complainant, the accused approached potential investors between December 2022 and January 2025, offering lucrative investment opportunities with assurances of quick and secure returns. Trusting these claims, several individuals invested substantial amounts. However, as time passed, neither the promised returns nor the principal amounts were paid back, raising suspicion of fraud.
Investigators have found that the accused used professional presentations, fabricated documents, and attractive investment plans to build credibility among victims. In some instances, initial investors were allegedly given partial payouts to create a sense of trust and legitimacy, thereby drawing in more participants. Once larger amounts were collected, the funds were diverted across multiple accounts.
Layered Transactions and Asset Freeze Measures
Officials believe that the accused employed “layering” techniques to obscure the money trail—routing funds through several bank accounts and channels to make tracking difficult. Such methods complicate efforts to identify the ultimate beneficiaries and recover the siphoned funds.
Authorities have begun analysing financial records and digital evidence to trace the accused and map the flow of money. Simultaneously, steps are being taken to identify and freeze bank accounts, properties, and other assets linked to the accused to prevent further misuse and enable recovery of the defrauded amount.
Wider Concerns Over Investment Frauds
Sources indicate that the matter may not be limited to a single complainant. Investigators suspect that more victims could be involved but have not yet come forward. Officials have urged anyone who may have been affected by similar schemes to report the matter promptly.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh cautioned against such fraudulent schemes, stating,
“In investment-related frauds, criminals exploit both greed and trust. They present schemes as legitimate using documents and digital tools. Investing in unregulated plans is extremely risky, and verifying the authenticity of any scheme is essential before committing funds.”
Experts note a sharp rise in frauds involving unregulated investment schemes in recent years, particularly with the growing use of digital platforms and social media to promote such offers. They warn that unusually high or guaranteed returns are often red flags indicating potential scams.
