19-year-old Hyderabad student loses Rs. 1.09L to fake Meesho investment scam
Hyderabad: A 19-year-old student from Hyderabad fell victim to an online investment scam, losing a total of ₹1,09,404 after being deceived by a fraudulent website claiming to be associated with Meesho. The incident occurred on May 4, 2025.
The victim was first contacted through an Instagram message, followed by a WhatsApp message from the number +880 1723-155742, which contained a Telegram link and the fake website URL. Trusting the legitimacy of the scheme, the victim registered on the fake website using her username and password.
Initially, the fraudsters asked for a ₹1,000 investment and credited ₹228 in return. Later, they requested an additional ₹500, which resulted in a deposit of ₹1,600 into the victim’s account. Encouraged by these returns, the victim continued to invest larger amounts, fearing the loss of her initial investments. She eventually borrowed money from friends, totaling ₹1,09,404.
The scammers displayed a balance of ₹1,81,000 in their so-called trading app but disabled the withdrawal option, preventing the victim from retrieving any funds. They demanded an additional ₹58,000, claiming it was the final transaction required to enable withdrawals.
Despite repeated assurances that this would be the last payment, the victim grew suspicious and threatened to report the matter to the police. The fraudsters then stopped all communication and refused to return her money. The victim has since filed an online complaint seeking assistance.
Public Advisory:
• Be cautious of online commission-based investment scams, especially targeted at students and young individuals.
• Avoid unsolicited investment offers received via Instagram, WhatsApp, or Telegram. Never share personal information or bank details on unverified websites.
• Verify investment opportunities through official company websites or customer service before making any transactions.
• Be wary of “commission-based” or “daily income” schemes that require upfront payments.
• In case of any cybercrime incidents, report immediately to the local police station or the cybercrime portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in. For emergency assistance, call or WhatsApp 8712665171.
