Pune Businessman Defrauded of Rs 1.94 Crore in Sophisticated Forex Trading Scam
A 40-year-old businessman from Chikhali, Pune, has fallen victim to a meticulously planned investment fraud, losing a staggering sum of Rs 1.94 crore. The elaborate scam involved a fraudster impersonating a manager from a reputable online forex trading platform, who lured the victim with promises of exceptionally high returns.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The complainant, identified as Govind Mukle, reported to the Pimpri Chinchwad police that in October 2024, he received a call from a man who introduced himself as Aditya Thakur. This individual claimed to be a trading manager for a well-known forex trading platform. To establish credibility, the caller sent Mukle a link that directed him to what appeared to be a legitimate forex trading website.
"The accused presented a highly convincing facade, complete with professional jargon and a seemingly authentic platform link," an investigating officer noted. Persuaded by the assurances, Mukle was convinced to open a trading account through the provided portal.
The Promise of Quick Riches and Subsequent Financial Drain
The fraudster provided strong guarantees that investing through this platform would generate substantial profits within a very short timeframe. Trusting this scheme, the businessman initiated a series of money transfers over an extended period.
- The transactions commenced on January 7, 2024.
- They continued until August 28, 2025.
- The total amount transferred across multiple transactions reached Rs 1.94 crore.
- All funds were sent to bank accounts that were linked to the purported trading activity.
The Unraveling: Delays, Evasion, and Eventual Police Complaint
When Govind Mukle attempted to withdraw the profits he believed had accrued, he was met with a series of obstructive tactics:
- Repeated and unexplained delays in processing the withdrawal.
- Evasive and non-committal responses from the supposed manager.
- Fresh demands for additional payments under various pretexts.
Growing increasingly suspicious, Mukle finally approached the Chikhali police station to file an official complaint. The police have registered a formal case under Section 318 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains specifically to the offense of cheating.
Police Investigation and Broader Implications
"After receiving the full amount, the accused completely ceased all communication. No profits were ever credited, and the principal investment was never returned," stated an officer from the Chikhali police.
The investigative team is now actively working on multiple fronts:
- Establishing the suspect's identity and tracing his whereabouts.
- Mapping the complete money trail, including all involved bank accounts.
- Analyzing the cellphone number and online platforms used to execute the fraud.
Authorities are also examining a critical angle: whether this incident is part of a larger, organized network that systematically targets investors. This network may operate by disseminating fake or misleading forex trading links and using the impersonation of trading professionals as a key tactic to gain victims' trust.
This case serves as a stark warning for investors to exercise extreme caution and conduct thorough due diligence before engaging with unsolicited investment opportunities, especially in the high-risk domain of online forex trading.
