A 44-year-old businessman from Salt Lake was duped of Rs 3.8 crore after being lured into investing in a fake cryptocurrency platform by a woman he met on Facebook, a case reported in September this year by TOI.
According to the complaint filed by Vikash Jhawar, a resident of AE Block in Salt Lake, he came in contact with a woman identifying herself as Aadhya Gupta on Facebook earlier this year. After several online conversations, Gupta convinced him to invest in a cryptocurrency trading platform that promised high returns.
Believing the opportunity to be genuine, Jhawar began investing on July 17, transferring Rs 3.8 crore in multiple instalments through RTGS from his bank accounts. He was also persuaded to borrow from friends and relatives to increase his investments.
"I started investing funds in this platform through multiple RTGS transfers from my bank accounts. I also borrowed money from my friends and relatives to invest more because the platform promised attractive returns," Jhawar stated in his complaint.
The platform displayed a wallet balance of USD 20,17,027 (around Rs 178.5 crore), giving the impression that his investments were yielding large profits. However, when he attempted to withdraw part of the balance on September 8, the platform’s support team demanded a 15% tax payment before releasing the funds. Subsequent withdrawal attempts were also denied, and Jhawar realised he had been scammed.
He lodged a complaint through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and with the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station. The case has been registered under various IPC sections related to cheating and fraud.
Police said they are tracing Gupta and her associates and working to freeze the bank accounts where the funds were transferred.
A senior officer told TOI, "We always urge people to remain cautious about unsolicited investment schemes, particularly those promoted on social media. One should also avoid financial dealings under the advice of lesser-known acquaintances or newly formed relationships."
(With inputs from TOI)
According to the complaint filed by Vikash Jhawar, a resident of AE Block in Salt Lake, he came in contact with a woman identifying herself as Aadhya Gupta on Facebook earlier this year. After several online conversations, Gupta convinced him to invest in a cryptocurrency trading platform that promised high returns.
Believing the opportunity to be genuine, Jhawar began investing on July 17, transferring Rs 3.8 crore in multiple instalments through RTGS from his bank accounts. He was also persuaded to borrow from friends and relatives to increase his investments.
"I started investing funds in this platform through multiple RTGS transfers from my bank accounts. I also borrowed money from my friends and relatives to invest more because the platform promised attractive returns," Jhawar stated in his complaint.
The platform displayed a wallet balance of USD 20,17,027 (around Rs 178.5 crore), giving the impression that his investments were yielding large profits. However, when he attempted to withdraw part of the balance on September 8, the platform’s support team demanded a 15% tax payment before releasing the funds. Subsequent withdrawal attempts were also denied, and Jhawar realised he had been scammed.
He lodged a complaint through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and with the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station. The case has been registered under various IPC sections related to cheating and fraud.
Police said they are tracing Gupta and her associates and working to freeze the bank accounts where the funds were transferred.
A senior officer told TOI, "We always urge people to remain cautious about unsolicited investment schemes, particularly those promoted on social media. One should also avoid financial dealings under the advice of lesser-known acquaintances or newly formed relationships."
(With inputs from TOI)
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