Ghaziabad Couple Falls Victim to ₹3 Crore Cyber Scam Through Fake Investment Scheme Via Facebook

Indirapuram, Ghaziabad: A couple from Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, has fallen prey to a sophisticated cyber scam, resulting in a financial loss of Rs 3 crore. Nabanita Mishra, the victim, has lodged a complaint with the local police, alleging that she and her husband, Mrinal Mishra, were deceived by a fraudulent investment scheme promoted through a Facebook advertisement.

What Exactly Happened?

According to the FIR filed, Nabanita and Mrinal Mishra made 22 transactions totaling Rs 3.1 crore between July and August this year, transferring the money to various bank accounts. The couple claims that their ordeal began after responding to a Facebook advertisement that promised lucrative investment opportunities. They were then added to a WhatsApp group, allegedly managed by a well-known investment platform. The group administrator lured the members with a competition called GTC, which promised substantial returns on investments.

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Initially, the couple paid a monthly subscription fee of Rs 2,000 for investment advice. However, they were soon convinced to make multiple high-value transactions to purchase shares and participate in IPOs, with detailed instructions provided by the company. The scammers even presented what appeared to be authentic SEBI registration details, further enhancing their credibility.

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The fraudsters operated primarily through the WhatsApp group, sharing transaction details and fabricated profit statements. The Mishras were even coerced into taking an Rs 80 lakh loan, which they were told needed to be repaid to access their purported investments.

Nabanita Mishra reported that although she could view her investment details and the so-called profits through the company's app, she was unable to withdraw any money. Instead, she was asked to pay taxes to release the funds. Growing suspicious, she attempted to invest in IPOs through other legitimate platforms but found herself unable to do so. After conducting her own investigation into the possibility of cyber fraud, Nabanita uncovered disturbing information about the company behind the scheme.

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When she tried to contact the members of the WhatsApp group, including other supposed investors, she discovered that all the phone numbers were unreachable. Subsequent investigations traced these numbers to Rajasthan.

A case has been registered under Section 66(D) of the IT Act, which deals with punishment for cheating by impersonation using a computer resource, and Section 318(4) of BNS, which pertains to cheating. The local police are currently investigating the matter, urging residents to remain vigilant against such online scams.