A 55-year-old businessman in Moradabad has allegedly been cheated of more than ₹90 lakh after a woman posing as the managing director of a fintech company lured him into a fake crypto trading investment, with police now investigating the fraud and tracing the accused through technical evidence.
Woman Posed as Fintech Executive
The case is linked to a businessman living near the Makbara police outpost in the Mughalpura police station area. The victim told police that he received a WhatsApp call on December 15 from a woman who identified herself as Ankita and claimed to be the MD of a fintech company.
During the conversation, she allegedly persuaded him to invest in crypto trading by promising that he could earn crores of rupees in a short period. To strengthen the deception, she later sent him a link which she described as the company’s official platform.
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Victim Transferred Over ₹90 Lakh
Trusting the representation, the businessman followed her instructions and transferred money in several transactions to bank accounts provided by her. The screenshots state that he sent a total of ₹90,46,250. Initially, everything appeared normal, and the victim did not suspect that he was being defrauded.
About two months later, when he tried to contact the woman for information about the promised profits, her mobile number, 9515240323, was found switched off continuously. After several failed attempts to reach her, he realised that he had been cheated and approached senior officials with a complaint.
Police Register Case and Begin Technical Probe
Taking the matter seriously, officials directed that an FIR be registered at the cyber cell police station. On the basis of the victim’s complaint, police have registered a case under sections related to cheating and the Information Technology Act and started an investigation.
ASP Crime Branch Subhash Chandra Gangwar said a special team has been formed to investigate the case. The team has been tasked with tracing the accused woman’s mobile location and identifying her network. Police say they expect to reach the accused soon on the basis of technical evidence and arrest her.
The incident serves as another warning against falling for attractive offers on social media and online platforms, especially in areas such as crypto investment. Police have appealed to the public not to transfer money at the request of unknown persons and to contact the cyber helpline or police immediately if any suspicious activity is noticed.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.