A 61-year-old government officer from Shahdara, Delhi, became a victim of a huge investment scam and lost ₹1.2 crore. The fraudsters pretended to be representatives of a UK-based online shopping platform and convinced her to invest. They promised high returns and slowly trapped her in their scheme. The scam started with a fake social media profile, which the woman believed to be real.
How the Fraud Happened
In October 2024, the woman started chatting with a stranger on social media. The person introduced himself as a successful investor working with an online marketplace platform. He claimed that he had been making huge profits for two years and convinced the woman to join the platform.
As their conversation continued, the fraudsters guided her through WhatsApp on how to invest. Trusting them, she registered on the fake platform and started placing orders using her own money.
Placed 56 Orders, But No Money Received
Over 78 days, the woman completed 56 orders worth $128,000 (around ₹1 crore). The platform showed that she was making huge profits. But when she tried to withdraw her money, the fraudsters created excuses.
They told her that some orders were not completed on time, which damaged her credit score. To fix this and withdraw money, she needed to deposit ₹35 lakh.
Took Loans to Recover Investment
The woman believed that paying the extra amount would allow her to get her entire money back. She deposited ₹35 lakh, but withdrawals were still blocked.
Later, she was told to pay another ₹34.5 lakh to unlock her “wallet funds.” To recover her investment, she took a loan on her Provident Fund (PF) and used her savings. Even after paying all the money, the fraudsters kept giving excuses.
She said, “I had no choice but to deposit the money. After I did, they told me my credit score was fixed, and I could now withdraw my money.”
Real Fraud Exposed
When she still couldn’t withdraw the money, she contacted her relative in the UK. She then discovered that the online platform was fake. By this time, she had lost all her money. She filed a police complaint, and the cybercrime department is now investigating.
How to Stay Safe from Such Scams
- Always verify an investment platform before investing.
- Do not trust strangers on social media for investment advice.
- Take advice from financial experts before making large investments.
- If a platform promises unrealistic high returns, be cautious.
- If you suspect fraud, immediately report it to the police or cybercrime helpline (1930).
Stay alert and do not fall for fake investment schemes promising quick and high returns!