Pune: A 23-year-old law student in Pune was allegedly duped of around ₹1.41 lakh after a man reportedly posed as a woman on Snapchat and spent nearly six months building a relationship with him before introducing a cryptocurrency investment scheme.
According to police, the accused allegedly used the photograph of a Chandigarh-based influencer to create a fake identity and communicated with the student using a woman’s voice. After gaining his trust, the accused allegedly persuaded him to transfer cryptocurrency to a digital wallet by promising to invest the funds and return them with substantial profits.
The accused, identified by police as 25-year-old Kunal Jitendra Admane, was arrested on August 31.
Six-Month Conversation Used to Build Trust
Police said the student received a Snapchat contact request on October 10, 2025, from an account identifying itself as “Princika Joshi.”
The person operating the account allegedly communicated with the student using a woman’s voice and gradually established trust through regular conversations.
After several months, the account allegedly introduced the student to cryptocurrency trading and promised high returns. The prolonged communication reportedly helped the accused convince the student that the online identity was genuine.
The case illustrates how scammers can use extended social engineering rather than immediately making a financial demand.
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₹1.41 Lakh Transferred to Digital Wallet
Following the instructions of the person operating the account, the student reportedly opened an account on Binance and began purchasing cryptocurrency with assistance from an online agent.
The accused allegedly instructed him to transfer the cryptocurrency to a digital wallet provided through the “Princika Joshi” identity.
According to the complaint, between January 9 and March 24, 2026, the student transferred cryptocurrency worth approximately ₹1.41 lakh through multiple transactions.
The funds were reportedly transferred not only from the student’s own wallet but also through wallets belonging to a relative and an online agent.
The promised investment returns never materialised, and the original amount was also allegedly not returned.
Google Lens Search Exposed the Fake Profile
After waiting for the promised returns, the student reportedly began questioning the identity behind the Snapchat account.
On July 19, 2026, he used Google Lens to check the profile photograph. The search allegedly showed that the photograph belonged to a Chandigarh-based influencer and had been used without permission to create the “Princika Joshi” identity.
When the student confronted the account holder about the photograph, the social media accounts associated with the identity were reportedly deleted within minutes.
This led the student to realise that the person with whom he had communicated for months may have been operating under a fabricated identity.
Digital Investigation Leads to Pune Man
The student subsequently approached police and lodged a complaint. A case was registered on August 13 under provisions relating to cheating and identity theft.
Cyber investigators examined the Snapchat account and other digital traces associated with the alleged fraud.
The investigation reportedly led police to Kunal Jitendra Admane, a resident of Pune’s Parvati area who is associated with the hotel management sector.
Police arrested Admane on August 31.
Investigators are now examining his electronic devices, social media activity and cryptocurrency transactions to determine whether other people were allegedly targeted using a similar method.
Police Probe Possible Additional Victims
The investigation is also expected to establish whether the accused allegedly operated other fake identities or used similar cryptocurrency investment schemes against additional victims.
The case highlights the growing risks associated with online identity deception, manipulated voice communication, stolen profile photographs and cryptocurrency-based investment fraud.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said such cases demonstrate how fraudsters increasingly rely on prolonged social engineering. Rather than demanding money immediately, scammers may spend weeks or months establishing credibility and emotional trust before introducing a financial proposition.
Police have advised people to independently verify the identity of unknown individuals met through social media, particularly when conversations eventually turn towards investments or money transfers.
People should also independently verify investment platforms, avoid transferring cryptocurrency to private wallets solely on the basis of online conversations and be cautious of promises of unusually high or guaranteed returns.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against the accused will be subject to judicial determination.
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About the author — Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
