Pune Residents Duped of Rs 29.16 Lakh in Elaborate Online Share-Trading Scams
In a stark reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime, two individuals from Pune have collectively lost a staggering Rs 29.16 lakh in separate online share-trading frauds that occurred between August and October last year. Following thorough investigations, the Khadki and Mundhwa police stations registered formal cases on Tuesday, highlighting the sophisticated nature of these financial scams.
Khadki Case: Victim Loses Rs 21.36 Lakh After Promised High Returns
A 45-year-old resident of Khadki fell prey to a meticulously orchestrated scam, losing Rs 21.36 lakh between September and October last year. According to his police complaint, the fraudsters first added him to a group of investors on a popular mobile messenger app. Under the guise of providing legitimate investment training, the criminals offered online sessions on stock market trading.
"After the training, the victim invested some amounts and immediately received good returns," disclosed an officer from the Khadki police. Encouraged by these initial gains, the victim continued to invest substantial sums, following the guidance provided by the scammers. Over the course of a month, he transferred a total of Rs 21.36 lakh to various bank accounts specified by the fraudsters.
The situation took a sinister turn when the victim was informed that his investments had supposedly generated a profit of Rs 1 crore. However, when he attempted to withdraw his funds, the criminals demanded an additional Rs 10 lakh as a commission fee. It was at this moment that the victim realized he had been duped and promptly approached the police to file a formal complaint.
Mundhwa Case: NGO Worker Defrauded of Rs 7.8 Lakh
In a separate but strikingly similar incident, a 43-year-old NGO worker from Mundhwa was swindled out of Rs 7.8 lakh between August and September last year. The fraudsters employed an identical modus operandi, adding the victim to an investor group and assuring him of substantial profits on his investments.
The scammers directed the victim to transfer money to multiple bank accounts, subsequently presenting him with fabricated statements showing an impressive profit of Rs 45 lakh. However, when the NGO worker attempted to access his supposed earnings, the criminals abruptly ceased all communication, leaving him defrauded and without recourse. The victim later filed an online complaint, leading to the police investigation.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigations
Both victims filed their complaints online, which triggered detailed investigations by the Pune police. The cases have now been officially registered, with authorities from the Khadki and Mundhwa police stations working to trace the perpetrators and recover the lost funds. These incidents underscore the critical need for public awareness regarding online investment scams, particularly those promising unrealistically high returns with minimal risk.
Police officials have urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when engaging in online trading platforms and to verify the credentials of any investment advisors or groups. They emphasized that legitimate financial opportunities rarely involve pressure tactics or demands for large upfront commissions.
