Pune: A 66-year-old businessman from Pune’s Kothrud area has fallen victim to an elaborate cyber fraud, allegedly losing ₹21.63 lakh after being befriended on Facebook by a woman who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency with promises of high returns.
Police said the scam began on December 30, 2025, when the victim received a friend request from a woman identifying herself as “Ananya alias Lavanya”, who claimed to be an interior designer based in Bengaluru. According to the first information report (FIR), the two soon struck up regular conversations, during which she showed interest in his business and expressed willingness to collaborate professionally.
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Investigators said the woman built trust over daily chats and WhatsApp audio and video calls. She also shared photographs purportedly showing her family members to reinforce her credibility. The duo even planned to meet in March.
The turning point came on January 7, when she proposed that the businessman invest in cryptocurrency trading, assuring him of lucrative profits. Though initially hesitant, the victim agreed after she persuaded him to begin with a modest amount of ₹10,000.
Following her instructions, he downloaded the Binance app and registered through a link sent by her. He transferred ₹10,000 on January 7 and another ₹10,000 the next day. Soon after, the app displayed that he had received 200 USDT, a cryptocurrency stablecoin.
Police said the apparent “returns” encouraged the victim further. After completing certain procedures on the app, he also received ₹60,000 in his bank account, strengthening his belief that the investment was genuine.
Subsequently, the woman added him to a WhatsApp group, where another unidentified individual began guiding him on additional investments. Between January 7 and January 14, the businessman transferred a total of ₹21.63 lakh through multiple online transactions.
The fraudulent platform then showed that his investment had ballooned to nearly ₹98 lakh. However, when he attempted to withdraw the amount, he was asked to deposit another ₹29 lakh as a “processing” charge to claim the profits.
“That was when he became suspicious and realised he had been duped,” a police official said.
The victim approached Pune cyber police with a complaint on January 18.namaste After preliminary verification, an FIR was formally registered at Kothrud police station on February 5.
A case has been booked against unidentified cyber fraudsters under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Police said they are currently analysing the phone numbers, Facebook profile, WhatsApp accounts and bank details used in the fraud. “We are tracing the money trail and working with banks and digital platforms to identify the suspects,” an officer involved in the probe said.
Cyber crime officials warned citizens, especially senior citizens and first-time digital investors, to remain cautious of unsolicited online friendships and investment offers. “Fraudsters often build emotional or professional rapport before introducing fake trading platforms. Victims are shown small returns initially to gain confidence, after which larger sums are siphoned off,” an official said.
Police have urged people to verify investment platforms independently and avoid clicking on unknown links shared on messaging apps or social media.
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.
