Ghaziabad Couple Defrauded of Rs 56 Lakh in Sophisticated Online Gambling Scam
In a distressing incident highlighting the perils of online deception, a couple from Mahagunpuram in Ghaziabad has been swindled out of a staggering Rs 56,26,960 in an elaborate online gambling fraud. The victims, businessman Nishant Kushwaha and his wife Vasudha, transferred the substantial sum in five separate instalments to various bank accounts between December 29 and January 13, following a meticulously orchestrated scam that began on social media.
The Deceptive Social Media Connection
According to police reports, the ordeal commenced in the first week of December last year when Vasudha received a follow request on Instagram from an account under the name Vihaan Sharma. Although she did not recognize the individual, Sharma claimed to know her, initiating a conversation. He presented himself as an IT manager at Infosys in Kolkata, building a facade of credibility. Approximately 25 days into their communication, Sharma provided his phone number, prompting a shift to another messaging platform for more private discussions.
The plot thickened on December 24 when Sharma informed Vasudha that he had been appointed as the IT manager at the prestigious Wynn Place hotel's casino in Macau. The very next day, he sent her a link, describing it as a platform where she could invest money in various games with the promise of staggering profits. To allay any suspicions, Sharma also forwarded a customer support link, assuring the couple that their funds would be entirely secure.
The Illusion of Winning and Subsequent Demands
Sharma proceeded to create multiple gaming accounts for the couple to facilitate their investments. A few days later, he instructed Vasudha to recharge small amounts into these accounts and start playing. Using the gaming ID 'VIHAAN 1', she began to play and, remarkably, started winning almost immediately. Her wallet soon reflected a huge accumulated amount, creating an illusion of success and profitability.
However, the situation took a sinister turn when Sharma declared that to withdraw the profits, the couple needed to exchange the currency and pay taxes on the winning amount. Under this pretext, he coerced them into transferring a total of Rs 56,26,960 across different bank accounts. Nishant Kushwaha, realizing the extent of the deception, lodged an official complaint with the police on January 21.
Detailed Breakdown of the Fraudulent Transactions
A senior police officer provided a chronological account of the five transactions:
- The initial transfer of nearly Rs 5 lakh occurred on December 29.
- This was followed by a second transaction of approximately Rs 9 lakh on January 2.
- The third and largest transaction, involving about Rs 21 lakh, was made on January 7.
- A fourth transfer of nearly Rs 14 lakh took place on January 10.
- The final transaction of around Rs 8 lakh was completed on January 13.
Even after these substantial payments, Sharma had the audacity to demand more money, claiming it was necessary to release the couple's purported winnings from the investment games. The officer further explained that the link provided by Sharma directed the victims to a casino website. "Sharma used to win the victims and cheat them on the pretext of currency change and tax," he stated, underscoring the manipulative tactics employed.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
Santosh Tiwari, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Cyber Crime police station, confirmed that based on the complaint filed on January 21, a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against an unknown person. The charges have been filed under section 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. This case serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated methods used by cyber criminals to exploit trust and lure individuals into financial traps through social media and fake investment platforms.
