Lucknow. A major cyber fraud case has surfaced in the state capital, where a businessman was cheated of approximately ₹25.01 lakh in the name of an e-commerce investment scheme. The victim was added to a fake platform through a WhatsApp link sent from an international number, where early profits were shown to gain trust before gradually inducing large financial deposits.
Fake WhatsApp Link Used
The victim, Nityanand Goswami, a resident of Sector-8, Indira Nagar, lodged an FIR at Ghazipur police station based on the mobile number used in the fraud. Police have registered the case and initiated an investigation with the help of the cyber cell.
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According to the complaint, the accused initially lured the businessman with promises of earning up to five times returns through e-commerce trading. A WhatsApp message from a foreign number contained a link to a website where he was instructed to create an account and begin selling products on the platform.
On March 14, the victim registered on the website. In the initial stage, the system displayed a profit of around 71 US dollars, which helped build confidence in the platform. Soon after, he started seeing fake orders and inflated profit figures on his dashboard, which encouraged him to continue investing larger amounts.
Small Profits Built Trust
Trusting the platform, the businessman transferred a total of ₹25,01,000 through multiple bank accounts and credit cards. The fraudsters had designed the system in such a way that small early gains were displayed to psychologically convince the victim to keep investing higher sums over time.
After a period, when the victim attempted to withdraw his invested amount and alleged profits, the transaction failed. The fraudsters then introduced a new excuse, claiming that his funds had been blocked by the “State Royal Bank UK” and that an additional payment was required to release the money.
On this pretext, the victim was asked to pay an additional 1,813 US dollars. When he questioned the process and contacted the so-called customer support, inconsistencies in the system began to emerge. Further investigation revealed that the entire platform was fake and part of a well-planned cyber fraud operation.
Withdrawal Blocked By Fraudsters
Soon after, the fraudsters blocked his account and cut off all communication, leaving the victim unable to access his funds or contact any representatives. It was at this stage that he realized he had been trapped in a structured online investment scam.
Police officials stated that preliminary findings suggest the involvement of an international cyber fraud network operating through foreign numbers, fake investment websites, and layered banking channels to avoid detection. The cyber cell is currently analyzing mobile records, banking transactions, and digital footprints linked to the case.
Cyber experts have warned citizens against believing unrealistic profit promises offered by online platforms. They emphasized that any investment opportunity guaranteeing unusually high returns should be treated with suspicion unless its registration and regulatory credentials are properly verified.
Money Trail Under Probe
Officials further noted that a common pattern in such scams involves showing small initial profits to gain trust, followed by repeated requests for larger investments. Eventually, victims are asked to pay additional “release charges” or “taxes” before withdrawal, after which communication is cut off completely.
Authorities are now working to trace the money trail and identify all individuals involved in the racket. Efforts are underway to determine the destination bank accounts and uncover the full extent of the fraud network.
