Prayagraj has witnessed a significant surge in cyber fraud, with five victims collectively cheated out of ₹1.26 crore through various online scams, according to police reports. Cybercrime units have registered FIRs and launched investigations to trace the fraudsters behind these elaborate schemes.
Fake IPO and Stock Market Investments
Among the victims, Vivek Kumar Srivastava was deceived into investing ₹50 lakh in fictitious IPOs promoted as highly profitable market opportunities. Similarly, Sachin Kumar was trapped into shell US stock market investments that drained ₹36.99 lakh from his accounts. These cases highlight the ever-increasing sophistication of cybercriminals targeting retail investors through false promises of high returns.
Franchise Fraud and Mobile Hacking Incidents
Pawan Kumar became a victim of a fraudulent scheme involving a supposed Reliance Consumer Products franchise, resulting in a loss of ₹6.98 lakh. Moreover, Govind Pal and Ramsundar Patel suffered financial theft via mobile phone hacks that facilitated unauthorized UPI transactions of over ₹7 lakh and ₹6.9 lakh, respectively, reflecting the diverse tactics employed by cybercriminals.
Ongoing Investigations and Public Vigilance
The Prayagraj Cyber Crime Police are actively pursuing leads, examining digital footprints and banking trails to apprehend the perpetrators. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution with online investment opportunities and verify the legitimacy of financial schemes before committing funds.
