Pimpri: In a shocking case of online fraud, a 41-year-old software engineer from Rahatni, Pimpri, was defrauded of ₹91.63 lakh by individuals who lured him into a WhatsApp group under the guise of being SEBI-registered.
The scammers, identified as Anjali Sharma and Naresh Rathi, manipulated the victim over a period of time, convincing him to invest large sums of money under the pretense of stock trading.
The fraud began when Anjali Sharma sent a link to the victim via WhatsApp, requesting personal information. Following this, the engineer was added to a WhatsApp group, where members discussed stock market tips and trading strategies.
The group falsely claimed that it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to gain the trust of its members.
To further the scam, the fraudsters shared a link to download an application that allegedly facilitated stock trading. Gradually, they gained the victim’s confidence, and over time convinced him to deposit a staggering ₹91.63 lakh into various bank accounts.
The fraudsters misled the victim by making him believe that his investment had grown to ₹7.19 crore, a sum that was never real. The victim only realized the deception when no returns were forthcoming. A complaint has been filed at Wakad Police Station, and an investigation is underway.
Woman Scammed of ₹26.61 Lakh in Promised Trading Profits
In a separate incident, a 49-year-old woman from Ghulewadi, Dapodi, was swindled out of ₹26.61 lakh by fraudsters who promised her high returns from trading.
The incident was orchestrated online, where the victim was deceived into downloading a fraudulent app after receiving a link from the scammers.
The accused lured the woman by offering the prospect of significant profits from stock trading investments. The victim was convinced to invest a total of ₹26.61 lakh but received neither returns on her investment nor her original amount back.
The victim lodged a complaint with Bhosari Police Station, and a case has been registered against unidentified suspects.