Lucknow: An online friendship that began on WhatsApp turned into a massive cyber fraud for a Lucknow resident, who lost ₹1.92 crore after being lured by a scamster posing as a woman. Police investigations revealed that the person behind the profile was a man operating under a fabricated identity and running a structured financial fraud module.
The accused, Imran Ghazi (34), a resident of Mishripur Depot area under Gudamba police station limits, has been arrested. According to the complaint, he introduced himself on WhatsApp as “Bhavika Shetty” and engaged the victim in daily conversations, gradually building trust over an extended period.
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Investment bait led to multiple transfers
After establishing an emotional connection, the accused convinced the victim to invest in purported high-return schemes. Believing the claims, the victim transferred funds to multiple bank accounts, eventually losing ₹1.92 crore.
When neither returns nor principal were received, the victim realised he had been cheated and approached the cyber crime police station.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating by personation using computer resources.
Forged documents used to open accounts
During interrogation, investigators found that after one of his bank accounts was frozen, the accused sought help from an associate, Shahzad, to continue operations. The duo allegedly created forged Aadhaar and PAN cards to open multiple bank accounts used to receive and route the defrauded money.
Police said ₹54 lakh directly passed through accounts operated by the accused, while total transactions of nearly ₹1.52 crore were recorded in his accounts within a month. Fake identity documents were recovered from his possession during the arrest.
Mule accounts and layered transactions
To avoid detection, the fraud proceeds were routed through mule bank accounts and split into smaller amounts before being transferred to other accounts, withdrawn in cash or moved into digital wallets.
This multi-layered transaction pattern indicates the involvement of a wider organised network rather than a single individual acting alone.
Probe expands to identify accomplices
Investigators are now working to identify the account holders who allowed their credentials to be used and those who facilitated fake KYC documentation. Call detail records, IP logs and financial trails are being analysed to map the full extent of the racket.
Police suspect that the same network may be linked to similar online friendship or investment fraud cases.
Rising trend of online friendship scams
Cybercrime experts note that friendship or romance scams typically begin with emotional engagement, followed by requests for investments, gifts, customs charges or emergency funds. Fake female profiles are often used to accelerate trust-building and reduce suspicion.
Advisory issued to the public
Police have urged citizens to:
- avoid financial transactions with unknown online contacts,
- verify identities before trusting investment offers promising unusually high returns, and
- report suspicious activity immediately on the 1930 cyber helpline.
Officials emphasised that transferring money based solely on digital interactions without verifying the person’s identity can lead to severe financial loss. The case highlights how cybercriminals combine emotional manipulation with financial engineering to execute high-value frauds.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
