Noida: Cybercriminals have allegedly defrauded five people in Noida of more than ₹56.60 lakh through different methods, including digital gift voucher scams, fraudulent business funding offers, online trading fraud and unauthorised withdrawals through internet banking. In one case, a fraudster impersonated a company’s chief executive officer (CEO) and persuaded an employee to purchase digital gift vouchers. In another, a woman was promised ₹10 crore in funding to start her own business but allegedly lost ₹14.25 lakh in the process. Following complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the cybercrime police station has registered cases and initiated investigations.
According to the complaints, the accused exploited victims’ trust, business ambitions and expectations of high investment returns. While one fraud involved impersonation of a senior company executive, another involved promises of financial assistance in exchange for processing fees. The other cases involved fraudulent online trading schemes and unauthorised transactions from a bank account.
FCRF Launches CP-FRM to Build India’s Next Generation of Fraud Risk Professionals
Fraudster Poses as CEO, Gets Employee to Buy Gift Vouchers
Anubhav Gupta, a resident of Ekta Nagar in Meerut, works at a company in Noida. He lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on August 2, stating that an unidentified person called him from a US phone number and claimed to be the CEO of his company.
The caller allegedly told Gupta that digital gift vouchers were urgently required for an upcoming client call and pressured him to purchase them immediately. Trusting the caller’s claimed identity and instructions, Gupta purchased 10 gift vouchers worth ₹25,000 each through Amazon India. The caller then allegedly persuaded him to purchase another set of 10 gift vouchers.
Gupta realised later that he had been duped. The complaint describes how the fraudster allegedly misused the identity of a senior company executive to manipulate the employee into making the purchases. However, the exact financial loss in this particular case has not been specified in the available complaint details.
Woman Loses ₹14.25 Lakh After Being Promised ₹10 Crore in Funding
Deepti Nair Negi, an 18-year-old resident of Sector 44, Noida, wanted to start her own business. According to her complaint, she came into contact with a Chennai resident named Karthikeyan on July 4, 2026, through whom she was introduced to a man identified as Bharani Dharan.
Bharani Dharan allegedly claimed to work for a finance company and assured Deepti that he could arrange ₹10 crore in funding for her business venture. He reportedly demanded money in the name of documentation formalities and processing fees to facilitate the proposed funding.
Trusting the assurances, Deepti transferred a total of ₹14.25 lakh to private bank accounts in multiple transactions. After receiving the money, the accused allegedly stopped communicating with her. Suspecting fraud, she filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on July 6, 2026.
Police are examining the transactions and the bank accounts allegedly used to receive the money. The promised funding was not provided, according to the complaint.
Online Trading Scam Results in Loss of ₹14.68 Lakh
Kuldeep Chechi, a 24-year-old Noida resident, allegedly lost ₹14.68 lakh after cybercriminals lured him with promises of substantial profits from online trading.
According to the complaint, the accused encouraged him to invest money by assuring him that he could earn significant returns. He subsequently transferred money in multiple transactions for investment purposes.
However, when Chechi sought the promised profits, the accused allegedly refused to pay him. They reportedly used different excuses while collecting money in the name of investments but failed to provide the returns they had promised.
Chechi subsequently approached the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Police are investigating the transactions and the bank accounts allegedly involved in the fraud.
₹9.67 Lakh Withdrawn Through Internet Banking
In another case, Abhishek, 32, reported that cybercriminals withdrew ₹9,67,257 from his bank account through internet banking on July 25, 2026.
He lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Investigators are examining how the unauthorised transactions were carried out and identifying those potentially involved in the incident.
Another Victim Loses ₹13 Lakh in 2025
In the fifth case, Rinku Singh allegedly suffered a financial loss of ₹13 lakh in an online financial fraud on June 2, 2025. The incident is among the cases reported to the authorities, and police are examining the relevant details.
Police Investigate Multiple Methods of Cyber Fraud
The five cases highlight different methods allegedly used by cybercriminals, including impersonating senior executives, promising large business loans, luring victims with high investment returns and withdrawing money through internet banking.
Investigators are working to establish the identities of the accused, trace the movement of the defrauded money and examine the bank accounts allegedly used in the transactions.
Cybersecurity experts advise people to verify unusual payment requests independently, particularly when someone claims to be a senior company official. Individuals should avoid purchasing digital gift vouchers at the insistence of unknown callers, transferring processing fees to private accounts without verifying the legitimacy of a financial offer, or investing through unverified online trading platforms.
Anyone who discovers an unauthorised transaction should immediately inform their bank and report the incident through India’s national cybercrime helpline at 1930. Prompt reporting may help authorities take timely action and improve the chances of tracing the transferred funds.
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.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
