A young man living in Gwalior was allegedly cheated of ₹23.84 lakh in a Telegram-based investment scam that promised easy home-based income and high returns through online trading. Police have registered a case on the victim’s complaint and referred the matter to the cyber crime cell for detailed investigation.
The victim, Rakesh Babu, is a resident of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh and works at a private company in Malanpur. He currently lives in the Shatabdi Puram area under Maharajpura in Gwalior. According to the complaint, he received a message on Telegram on April 4 offering attractive returns through trading investments and part-time online earning opportunities.
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Small Profits Used to Build Trust
The fraudsters allegedly gained the victim’s confidence by showing small but regular profits on his early investments. Encouraged by these apparent returns, he began transferring larger amounts into the scheme.
The fake trading interface and profit dashboard further convinced him that the investment was genuine. The complaint states that the platform showed rising account balances, creating the impression that his money was growing through online trading.
When the victim attempted to withdraw the amount shown as profit, the fraudsters introduced new conditions. They claimed that tax payments and processing charges were required before the withdrawal could be released.
Repeated Charges Demanded Before Withdrawal
Trusting the claims, the victim deposited more money, but no withdrawal was processed. The scammers then continued demanding additional payments under different pretexts, pushing him deeper into the fraud.
After repeated attempts to recover his money failed, the victim approached the cyber helpline and filed a formal complaint. The complaint was later forwarded to the cyber cell for investigation.
Officials said the cyber team is tracing the bank accounts where the fraudulently obtained funds were transferred. Efforts are also being made to identify and freeze the accounts linked to the scam.
Police Probe Wider Network Links
Police have urged citizens not to trust unknown Telegram channels, links or investment offers promising guaranteed or unusually high returns. Officials said preliminary investigation suggests the possible involvement of a wider network operating across multiple states.
Cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said such scams rely on psychological manipulation. He noted that victims are first shown small profits to build confidence before being pressured into making larger investments.
Experts have warned that fake trading platforms and fabricated profit dashboards are increasingly being used to deceive people seeking quick earnings online. Authorities said public awareness, platform verification and prompt reporting remain crucial to preventing such cyber frauds.
