Chandigarh: Police in Panchkula, Haryana, have arrested two foreign nationals in connection with a cyber fraud case in which a retired central government officer was allegedly cheated of ₹13.10 lakh on the pretext of investing in a pharmaceutical business. Investigators suspect that the accused used social media platforms and WhatsApp to establish contact with the victim and lure him with promises of unusually high returns.
The arrested accused have been identified as Tapiva, a Zimbabwean national, and Kenneth, a Nigerian national. According to police, Tapiva was staying in India on a student visa, while Kenneth had entered the country on a medical visa. Both were arrested from Bahadurgarh following a technical investigation.
The accused were produced before a court, which granted five days of police custody for further investigation. During the remand period, investigators recovered 11 mobile phones and seven passports from their possession. Police are examining the devices and documents to identify their wider network and the possible involvement of other individuals.
The case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Panchkula, after the victim filed a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on February 20, 2026.
According to the complaint, the victim came in contact with a woman through Facebook in December 2025. The woman allegedly introduced herself as a resident of the United Kingdom. Their conversations later shifted to WhatsApp, where she reportedly gained the victim’s confidence through regular calls and messages before introducing him to another person, claiming him to be her relative.
Police said the accused allegedly convinced the victim to invest in a pharmaceutical business, assuring him that the company would independently purchase and sell products and provide three times the invested amount as returns. Trusting the proposal, the victim transferred money into different bank accounts.
The investigation revealed that between December 2025 and February 2026, the victim transferred a total of ₹13.10 lakh. However, he neither received any pharmaceutical products nor any promised returns. After realising that he had been cheated, the victim approached the cyber crime authorities and reported the matter.
According to police officials, the preliminary investigation indicates that the accused used fake identities, social media platforms and online communication channels to carry out the fraud. Investigators are now tracing the movement of the cheated money and examining the bank accounts allegedly used for routing the funds.
Cyber experts said investment frauds of this nature usually follow a pattern where criminals first establish contact through social media platforms and gradually build trust with victims. After gaining confidence, they introduce fake investment schemes promising high profits with minimal risk. Unrealistic returns and limited-time investment opportunities are commonly used tactics in such scams.
Cyber security professionals have advised people not to transfer money based on investment offers received through social media, messaging applications or unknown online contacts without proper verification. The authenticity of any company, business opportunity or investment scheme should always be checked through official sources.
Authorities have appealed to the public to remain cautious about online offers promising unusually high returns. Any suspicious financial transaction should immediately be reported to the concerned bank and cyber crime authorities, as quick reporting can improve the chances of preventing further losses and recovering funds.
