A 33-year-old officer serving with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has fallen victim to a major online share trading fraud, losing approximately Rs 51 lakh to cyber criminals. The incident, reported from Noida, highlights the growing sophistication of digital financial scams targeting individuals across India.
The Modus Operandi: A Web of Deception
The scam began on August 26, when the victim, Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Surajpur originally from Himachal Pradesh, was contacted on WhatsApp by a woman identifying herself as Isha Desai from Mumbai. After initial contact, the conversation shifted to the Telegram messaging platform, where the accused built a rapport with Kumar.
Posing as a financial advisor, Desai persuaded Kumar to invest in share trading through a platform called 'GO Markets Global Cs'. To gain his trust, she first sent him a link to download the application on September 11 and even facilitated a small withdrawal of Rs 5,000 as 'profit'. This successful transaction was a classic confidence-building tactic used by fraudsters.
The Massive Financial Loss
Convinced of the scheme's legitimacy, Kumar proceeded to transfer a staggering Rs 51 lakh to multiple bank accounts. The funds were sent in over 70 transactions between September 11 and November 6, all as per instructions received from the fraudster. The application showed inflated profits, creating an illusion of successful investment.
The scam unraveled when Kumar attempted to withdraw the full amount displayed as profit. The accused then demanded additional payments under the guise of 'transaction fees', a common red flag in such frauds. Sensing foul play, Kumar stopped further transfers and officially reported the crime.
Police Action and Investigation
Rajesh Kumar lodged a formal complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on November 29. Following this, the Noida Cyber Crime Police Station registered a First Information Report (FIR). SHO Vijay Rana confirmed that a case has been filed against unknown persons under Section 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
"We have approached the concerned banks to trace the accounts where the victim's money was transferred," stated SHO Rana, emphasizing that a detailed investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend the culprits behind this elaborate scheme.
This case serves as a stark reminder for the public to exercise extreme caution when approached with unsolicited investment opportunities, especially on social media and messaging platforms. Authorities advise verifying the authenticity of any trading platform and being wary of promises of unusually high returns with minimal risk.
