Hyderabad woman loses over Rs 16 lakhs in fake investment scam
Hyderabad: A 46-year-old private female employee in Hyderabad fell victim to a cyber scam, losing a staggering Rs. 16.73 lakh (sixteen lakh seventy-three thousand only).
According to the Cybercrime police, the woman was targeted through a fake WhatsApp group named “VIP53-Groww Capital and Securities.” Posing as legitimate investment advisors, the scammers lured the victim with promises of high returns on “upper circuit stocks and IPOs.” They added her to their group where they constantly recommended stocks and pressured members to invest.
The scam escalated when the fraudsters assigned a dedicated “customer care person” to the victim. This tactic likely built trust in the fake scheme, convincing the woman to transfer a total of Rs 16.73 lakh to accounts provided by the scammers.
In recent incidents in Hyderabad, individuals have fallen victim to various scams, highlighting the growing threat of online fraud. A 31-year-old medical professional from Secunderabad was targeted by an advanced cyber fraud scheme. The targeted person received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from FedEx, alleging that an illegal package had been shipped from Mumbai to Iran.
In another incident, a 27-year-old female private employee from Hyderabad fell victim to a scam while seeking a match on Shaadi.com.
Additionally, a 44-year-old housewife residing in Hyderabad has been defrauded of Rs. 21,73,000 in an online scam conducted through the messaging app Telegram. The victim, whose identity remains confidential, fell prey to the fraudulent scheme after receiving messages from accounts identified as @PUYFU63, @JollyBiswas269, and @Joyless.
Public Advisory:
Fraudsters often target victims on social media platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook by promoting fake trading apps and websites. These schemes are not endorsed by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) and are entirely fraudulent.
Abstain from trusting promises of high returns and fabricated profit screenshots. Scammers often credit small sums into victims’ accounts to gain their confidence.
If you suspect you are a victim of cyber financial fraud, report it immediately by calling the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in. For emergencies, call or WhatsApp at 8712665171.
