A resident of Puttur in the Mangaluru district has fallen prey to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing a staggering sum of Rs 51.8 lakh to criminals operating a fake stock investment scheme through WhatsApp and a mobile application.
The Elaborate Web of Deception
The incident began in October when an unknown individual first contacted the victim on WhatsApp. The person sent messages promising exceptionally high returns on stock market investments, sparking the victim's interest. Soon after, a woman who identified herself as Deepa Rasimane took over the communication.
Claiming to be the administrator of an exclusive investment group, Deepa explained the purported investment process in detail. She used multiple WhatsApp numbers to contact the complainant, building a facade of legitimacy. To proceed, she sent a link and instructed the victim to download a specific mobile application.
Acting on these instructions, the complainant downloaded the app, created a username and password, and began using the platform. Deepa continued to guide her, offering investment advice. Another individual, who introduced himself as Deepa's boss named Dinesh K Waghela, joined the scheme, sharing stock market information in a dedicated WhatsApp group.
The Financial Drain and Police Action
Believing the assurances of high profits, the victim started transferring money. The accused provided various bank accounts, and the complainant made phased payments through the application. The transactions occurred between November 14 and December 23, during which the total amount lost ballooned to Rs 51.8 lakh.
The victim, who holds accounts with two different banks in Puttur, realized she had been cheated. Following the discovery, she contacted the national cybercrime helpline number 1930 to report the crime. Based on her complaint, a formal case has been registered at the CEN (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics) crime police station for investigation.
A Stark Reminder of Digital Vigilance
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of online financial frauds targeting individuals seeking quick investment gains. Scammers are leveraging popular platforms like WhatsApp to establish initial contact and gain trust before moving the interaction to controlled applications.
Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution with unsolicited investment offers received on messaging platforms. Key red flags include promises of guaranteed high returns, pressure to act quickly, and instructions to download unknown apps or transfer money to personal bank accounts. Always verify the credentials of any investment platform independently through official channels before committing funds.
