ITBP Officer Loses Rs 51 Lakh in Elaborate Online Trading Scam
A 33-year-old officer from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police has lost a staggering Rs 51 lakh in a sophisticated online trading scam. The victim, Rajesh Kumar, lives in Surajpur, Noida. He fell prey to a fraudulent investment scheme that was promoted through popular messaging platforms.
Police File FIR Under New Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
An official First Information Report has been registered with the cybercrime branch. Authorities filed the case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with cheating. They also invoked relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
Vijay Rana, the Station House Officer of the Cyber Crime Police Station, provided details about the ongoing investigation. "We have approached the concerned banks to trace the accounts where the money was transferred," he told reporters. The police are actively working to follow the digital trail left by the scammers.
Scam Originated on WhatsApp Before Moving to Telegram
Police investigation reveals that the scam began on August 26, 2025. A woman contacted Kumar on WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta. She introduced herself as Isha Desai and claimed to be from Mumbai. This woman presented an attractive investment opportunity that promised substantial profits.
The conversation soon shifted from WhatsApp to Telegram. Desai then persuaded Kumar to invest in share trading through a specific application called 'GO Markets Global Cs'. According to police records, Kumar downloaded this app on September 11, 2025.
Initial Small Profit Built False Confidence
The scammer employed a classic confidence-building tactic. Desai helped Kumar withdraw a small profit of Rs 5,000 from the trading app. This successful withdrawal made the scheme appear legitimate and trustworthy. It effectively lowered Kumar's guard against potential fraud.
Massive Financial Loss Through Numerous Transactions
Convinced of the scheme's authenticity, Kumar proceeded to transfer Rs 51 lakh. He made these transfers to multiple bank accounts through more than seventy separate transactions. This financial activity occurred over a three-month period from September 11 to November 6, 2025.
Kumar followed all instructions provided by the woman posing as Isha Desai. He believed he was participating in a genuine investment opportunity with promised high returns.
Reality Emerges When Withdrawal Attempts Fail
The scam unraveled when Kumar attempted to withdraw the full amount shown as profit in the trading app. At this point, the accused demanded additional payments disguised as transaction fees for withdrawal. This demand for more money raised immediate red flags.
Kumar realized he had been defrauded and stopped all further money transfers. He took decisive action by lodging a formal complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on November 29, 2025.
Growing Pattern of Messaging Platform Scams
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of financial scams operating through popular messaging applications. Scammers are exploiting the trust people place in these platforms to execute elaborate fraud schemes. The transition from WhatsApp to Telegram demonstrates how criminals use multiple channels to avoid detection.
Authorities continue to warn citizens about too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities promoted through unsolicited messages. They emphasize the importance of verifying financial schemes through official channels before transferring any funds.
