Pune Housewife Defrauded of Rs44 Lakh in Elaborate Online Share Trading Scam
A 31-year-old housewife from Pimple Gurav in Pune has fallen victim to a sophisticated cybercrime, losing a staggering Rs44 lakh in an online share-trading fraud that unfolded between December last year and January this year. The woman, whose husband works for a software company in Baner, filed an online complaint after realizing she had been duped by cybercrooks.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to officers from the Sangvi police, who registered the case on Saturday after preliminary investigations, the fraud began in December when the crooks contacted the woman through a social media platform. They shared a link to an app, which she downloaded after filling in her details, believing it to be a legitimate trading platform.
The scammers then added her to a group of investors on a mobile messaging app, where members regularly shared profits they claimed to have earned by investing in stocks through the company. This created a false sense of trust and legitimacy.
The Deceptive Promises and Transfers
A woman posing as an official of the company contacted the complainant, assuring her of a 10% profit per month on her investments. Convinced by these promises, the victim proceeded to transfer funds to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
Between December 15 last year and January 13 this year, she transferred a total of Rs43.87 lakh to various bank accounts. The fake app displayed fabricated profits, showing she had earned Rs1.75 crore on her investments.
The Realization and Police Action
When the woman attempted to withdraw her money, the crooks demanded an additional Rs30 lakh, which raised her suspicions. Realizing she was being scammed, she immediately lodged a complaint with the authorities.
The Sangvi police are now investigating the case, highlighting the risks of online investment frauds. This incident serves as a stark reminder for the public to exercise caution when engaging in online trading and to verify the authenticity of apps and investment opportunities.
