Pune: In a major cyber fraud case, scammers cheated a 68-year-old senior lawyer from Pune by duping him of more than ₹14.25 crore under the pretext of investment. The fraudsters contacted the victim through mobile calls and messages, luring him with promises of high returns in the stock market. After gradually gaining his trust, they made him transfer money to multiple bank accounts.
Building Trust Through Small Investments
According to the victim’s complaint, the fraud began with investment-related messages received on his mobile phone. The senders introduced themselves as investment advisors and claimed that a special opportunity in the stock market could generate high profits in a short period. The conversation was conducted in a professional and convincing manner, leaving the victim unsuspecting.
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Illusion of Growing Profits
The fraudsters initially asked the victim to invest a small amount to build confidence. Later, they pressured him to deposit larger sums by giving different excuses. The victim was told that multiple bank accounts were required to complete the investment process. After every transfer, he received messages on his phone claiming that the investment was successful and that his profit amount was increasing. Seeing the rising figures displayed on the screen, the victim believed his money was safe.
Withdrawal Attempts Reveal the Fraud
Over time, when the victim asked to withdraw his invested money and the alleged profits, the fraudsters started delaying the process by giving different reasons. Sometimes they claimed there was a technical issue in the system, and at other times they said the procedure was incomplete. Meanwhile, the phone numbers used for communication suddenly became inactive. Repeated attempts to contact them failed, and the victim realized that he had been cheated.
The lawyer then filed a complaint at the Shivajinagar Cyber Police Station. Police officials said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the IT Act and cheating laws based on the complaint. The investigation team is thoroughly examining bank accounts, mobile numbers, and online transaction records used in the fraud.
Police Investigation Underway
Cybersecurity experts said such investment frauds are rising rapidly. Fraudsters first build trust by offering small profits and later demand larger amounts of money. People are advised to verify the legitimacy of any unknown investment offer before responding. In particular, they should remain cautious of stock market offers received through mobile calls, messages, or social media platforms.
Police and cyber security agencies urged citizens not to transfer money to any bank account without proper verification and not to share financial details with strangers. In such cases, immediate complaint registration on the cyber helpline is recommended to help block digital payments quickly.
Investigators are currently analyzing bank transaction details, mobile network data, and suspicious online accounts linked to the case. Police stated that strict legal action will be taken against the accused after the investigation is completed. Authorities also noted that investment-related cyber fraud cases have increased in the city, prompting repeated public awareness warnings.
