Noida, March 3: In a shocking incident of cyber fraud, a woman from Greater Noida, Meenu Rani, was allegedly defrauded of more than Rs 51 lakh after falling victim to a stock trading scam. Police confirmed the details of the fraud on Monday, highlighting the increasing risks posed by online investment frauds.
According to the police, Meenu Rani filed a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime police station in Noida on Saturday, detailing how she was deceived by a person named Hari Singh. Singh had presented himself as a seasoned investor with over 15 years of experience in the stock market, luring Rani with the promise of substantial returns.
Initially, Hari Singh introduced Rani to a WhatsApp group where another participant, identified as Aarti Singh, contacted her. Aarti informed Rani that Hari had purchased multiple Amazon gift vouchers worth Rs 1,000 each, supposedly intended to support a woman in need. Rani received one of these vouchers and after logging into her Amazon account, she saw Rs 1,000 credited, which significantly enhanced her trust in Hari Singh and his investment claims.
Preeti Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime), explained that the fraudsters capitalized on this trust and convinced Rani to start with an initial investment of Rs 50,000. After transferring the amount to the fraudsters' designated bank account, Rani saw her initial investment and apparent profits appearing in an application suggested by the fraudsters, which further encouraged her to invest more.
Seeking greater profits, Rani eventually invested Rs 51.50 lakh, including money borrowed from her husband, mother-in-law, and relatives. The reality of the scam surfaced when Rani reached out to an acquaintance to borrow more money. The acquaintance immediately alerted her that she had fallen victim to a fraud.
Following this revelation, Rani tried to contact the fraudsters to reclaim her investments but found that they had already cut off all communication.
Police officials stated that out of the total sum invested by Rani, around Rs 4.80 lakh has been frozen, while efforts continue to recover the remaining funds. Authorities have registered a case under the Information Technology (IT) Act and are actively pursuing leads to apprehend the perpetrators.
This incident highlights the urgent need for increased public awareness regarding cyber scams, emphasizing caution and vigilance while dealing with online investments and financial schemes.
According to the police, Meenu Rani filed a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime police station in Noida on Saturday, detailing how she was deceived by a person named Hari Singh. Singh had presented himself as a seasoned investor with over 15 years of experience in the stock market, luring Rani with the promise of substantial returns.
Initially, Hari Singh introduced Rani to a WhatsApp group where another participant, identified as Aarti Singh, contacted her. Aarti informed Rani that Hari had purchased multiple Amazon gift vouchers worth Rs 1,000 each, supposedly intended to support a woman in need. Rani received one of these vouchers and after logging into her Amazon account, she saw Rs 1,000 credited, which significantly enhanced her trust in Hari Singh and his investment claims.
Preeti Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime), explained that the fraudsters capitalized on this trust and convinced Rani to start with an initial investment of Rs 50,000. After transferring the amount to the fraudsters' designated bank account, Rani saw her initial investment and apparent profits appearing in an application suggested by the fraudsters, which further encouraged her to invest more.
Seeking greater profits, Rani eventually invested Rs 51.50 lakh, including money borrowed from her husband, mother-in-law, and relatives. The reality of the scam surfaced when Rani reached out to an acquaintance to borrow more money. The acquaintance immediately alerted her that she had fallen victim to a fraud.
Following this revelation, Rani tried to contact the fraudsters to reclaim her investments but found that they had already cut off all communication.
Police officials stated that out of the total sum invested by Rani, around Rs 4.80 lakh has been frozen, while efforts continue to recover the remaining funds. Authorities have registered a case under the Information Technology (IT) Act and are actively pursuing leads to apprehend the perpetrators.
This incident highlights the urgent need for increased public awareness regarding cyber scams, emphasizing caution and vigilance while dealing with online investments and financial schemes.
