Pune Residents Lose Over ₹1 Crore in Sophisticated Online Share Trading Scams
In a disturbing series of financial frauds, three individuals from Pune, including a nurse employed at a central government-run hospital, have collectively lost a staggering sum exceeding ₹1 crore to cybercriminals operating elaborate online share trading scams. Separate complaints detailing these sophisticated cons were officially registered with the Pune cyber police, Alankar police, and Nigdi police stations on Wednesday, highlighting a growing trend of investment-related cybercrime in the city.
Nurse Duped of ₹53.48 Lakh After Promises of High Returns
A 51-year-old nurse, dedicated to serving at a central government hospital in Pune, fell victim to a devastating fraud, losing ₹53.48 lakh. According to an officer from the Pune cyber police, the scam unfolded between November and December of last year. The perpetrators, posing as executives from a prominent finance firm, initiated contact with the nurse through a popular mobile messaging application.
The fraudsters shared a deceptive link with her, purportedly for buying and selling shares. Trusting their instructions, the nurse proceeded to transfer substantial amounts of money to various bank accounts provided by the criminals. Within the manipulated interface of the shared link, she was shown a fabricated profit of an astonishing ₹1.3 crore on her investments.
"When she attempted to withdraw her supposed earnings, the cybercrooks demanded additional payments, ultimately duping her of her life savings," the investigating officer explained, detailing the cruel twist that left the victim financially devastated.
Software Engineer and Company Official Targeted in Similar Frauds
In a parallel case reported to the Alankar police, a 49-year-old software engineer residing in Kothrud was cheated out of ₹22 lakh. The modus operandi mirrored the nurse's ordeal. In January 2024, the crooks contacted him via a social media platform, luring him with assurances of a 15% profit on his investments.
He was subsequently added to a group of supposed investors on a mobile messaging app. Within a mere 15 days, the victim transferred ₹22 lakh to multiple bank accounts as instructed. The app, under the control of the fraudsters, displayed a false profit of ₹5 lakh. His hopes were dashed when, upon trying to access his funds, he was abruptly removed from the group and blocked, realizing he had been thoroughly conned. Following his online complaint and preliminary investigations, the Alankar police registered a formal case on Wednesday.
The third victim, a 58-year-old private company official, approached the Nigdi police after losing ₹24 lakh in a scam that occurred between October and December last year. Once again, the promise of lucrative returns on share investments was the bait. The criminals funneled his money through different accounts and showed him a falsified profit statement of ₹1.46 crore.
"The victim's attempt to withdraw the money was met with a demand for ₹13.80 lakh, allegedly for 'profit tax.' This demand finally alerted him to the scam," stated an officer from the Nigdi police. The victim promptly lodged an online complaint, leading to the registration of a case after initial probes were completed on Wednesday.
A Call for Vigilance Against Digital Investment Frauds
These three separate incidents, resulting in a combined loss of over ₹1 crore, underscore a critical need for public awareness and caution. The Pune cyber police and other local stations are actively investigating these cases. The scams follow a clear pattern: initial contact through digital platforms, promises of guaranteed high returns, the use of manipulated applications to show fake profits, and finally, demands for more money or outright denial of withdrawal when victims seek to retrieve their funds.
Authorities urge citizens to exercise extreme diligence before investing online, to verify the legitimacy of financial firms independently, and to never transfer money based solely on instructions received through unsolicited messages or calls. The emotional and financial toll on the victims, including a healthcare professional serving the public, highlights the severe impact of such cyber-enabled financial crimes.
