According to the complaint filed with the Rachakonda Cybercrime Wing, the woman came across a video where a man named Pranjal Kumar claimed he could guide people in stock trading and help them earn huge profits. Influenced by the promises, she joined a WhatsApp group linked to the scheme.
Inside the group, members shared screenshots of supposed earnings, and a man named Keshav regularly posted investment tips. The victim began investing money in the scheme with help from an assistant named Riddhi, who guided her through the process.
Riddhi asked the woman to download a trading app and submit her Aadhaar, PAN card, and phone number for registration. She then started investing large amounts, ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
Later, she was offered an “upgrade” scheme that promised to double her profits. Before joining the upgrade, she asked to withdraw some money. With Riddhi’s assistance, she managed to withdraw Rs 2 lakh. Encouraged by this, she invested more money—but received no returns afterward.
When she asked for further withdrawals, there was no response from the group members or coordinators. Realizing she had been cheated, the victim filed a police complaint.
She stated that she had invested a total of Rs 55.25 lakh but got back only Rs 2 lakh. The Rachakonda Cybercrime Wing registered a case under the Information Technology (IT) Act and began an investigation into the alleged fraud.
Authorities have urged the public to be cautious about online investment schemes and avoid sharing personal and financial details with unverified sources.
Tags:
Cybercrime in India
