Cyber fraudsters dupe man to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore

A 66-year-old Kondapur consultant lost Rs 3.54 crore to cyber fraudsters posing on social media and promoting a fake cryptocurrency platform. Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has registered a case and is investigating the multiple identities behind the scam

Hyderabad: A 66-year-old consultant from Kondapur was cheated of Rs 3.54 crore by cyber fraudsters who allegedly trapped him through a fake cryptocurrency trading platform after befriending him on social media.

As per information available the victim, a resident of Majid Banda in Kondapur, received a Facebook friend request from a profile named Navya Serge. After he accepted the request, the two began chatting regularly. During their conversations, the woman obtained his WhatsApp number and gradually gained his confidence.

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Police said she later introduced him to cryptocurrency trading and claimed that the platform she recommended would generate high profits.

“Trusting her claims, the consultant opened an account on the suggested application and started transferring money from June 2024,” police said.

After investing nearly Rs 1.5 crore, the victim reportedly tried to withdraw some amount but discovered that his account had been blocked and he could not access the funds.

Several months later, in November last year, the same phone number became active again. When the victim contacted it, a woman identifying herself as Anushka Sharma from Chandigarh responded and said she was running a garment manufacturing business.

When the victim checked, it was found that the person appeared to be using multiple identities on social media. While the phone contact showed the name Anushka Sharma, her Instagram profile reportedly carried the name Manisha, and her LinkedIn account described her as a senior manager in a real estate consultancy firm.

Despite suspecting foul play, the victim was again convinced by the woman to invest more money with assurances of guaranteed returns. Believing her claims, he transferred another Rs 16 lakh.

In total, the victim transferred Rs 3.54 crore in four instalments over a period of time before realising that he had fallen prey to an online investment scam.

Based on a complaint, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau officials booked a case and are investigating. Officials said efforts are on to trace the people operating the fraudulent cryptocurrency platform.