A 21-year-old salesman from Limbayat, Surat, has allegedly been cheated of Rs 14.60 lakh in an online investment scam involving fake share market and IPO returns, according to police. The Surat cybercrime police registered an FIR on Sunday against an unknown accused and initiated an investigation into the matter.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to the complaint, the victim, who works with a firm based in Saroli, came across an investment advertisement on social media in December 2025. After clicking on the advertisement, he was added to a WhatsApp group where members shared screenshots of alleged profits and discussed investment tips.
On December 22, he received a message from a woman who identified herself as the group admin. Along with other members, she began guiding him on investment strategies. Initially, the victim reportedly earned small returns, which built his trust in the group.
VIP Membership and Escalation
In January, the victim was offered a “VIP membership” and asked to create an account on a website. He then started transferring money as instructed by the accused, while his account on the platform displayed increasing profits. Police said the victim transferred a total of Rs 15.20 lakh by February 13. However, he was only allowed to withdraw Rs 60,000. When further withdrawal requests were blocked, he realized he had been cheated.
Action Taken
The victim subsequently contacted the cybercrime helpline at 1930 and filed a formal complaint. The cybercrime police have registered an FIR and are investigating the case. Authorities urge the public to be cautious of such investment schemes and verify the authenticity of any platform before transferring money.
