Police in Chandigarh have reported two separate cases of online investment fraud that cost residents nearly Rs 30 lakh. Authorities filed two First Information Reports on Tuesday and launched investigations to track down the criminals and follow the money trail.
First Victim Loses Over Rs 15 Lakh After Facebook Message
In the initial incident, Sumer Singh Saini from Sector 61 received a message on Facebook. A woman identifying herself as Shunidhi Chouhan from Dehradun contacted him. She presented herself as a trader and convinced Saini to invest in an online scheme.
The scheme promised returns between 10% and 30%. Saini registered on a website the woman provided. Over time, he transferred more than Rs 15 lakh into the investment platform.
His account showed a massive profit of Rs 1 crore. But when Saini attempted to withdraw his funds, the fraudsters demanded an extra Rs 21.33 lakh. They claimed his account was frozen and required this payment for release.
At that point, Saini recognized the scam. He immediately approached the cyber police station to file a complaint.
Second Case Involves YouTube Link and Trading App
Another resident, Sunny Kumar from Manimajra, fell victim to a different online fraud. He clicked on a YouTube link that promoted a share trading business. The link directed him to download an application called "ADVPMA."
Kumar started investing in stages after being coaxed by the fraudsters. He began with a modest Rs 5,000 investment. Repeated assurances of high returns persuaded him to continue.
Eventually, Kumar transferred a total of Rs 14.4 lakh into the scheme. The accused individuals later became completely untraceable, leaving Kumar with significant losses.
Police Action and Ongoing Efforts
Cyber police in Sector 17 have registered both cases under relevant legal sections. Officials confirmed that investigations are actively underway.
Authorities are working to identify the suspects involved in these scams. They aim to dismantle the entire network behind these fraudulent operations. Police emphasize the importance of public vigilance against too-good-to-be-true online investment offers.
Residents should verify the legitimacy of any investment platform before transferring money. Reporting suspicious activities promptly can help prevent further losses.
