Mandi man duped of Rs 20 lakh in online trading scandal
A resident lost Rs 20 lakh to a fraudulent WhatsApp trading group in Mandi district. A case was registered today.
The victim clicked on a misleading advertisement on Facebook for trading, which led him to join a fake group promoting investments in shares and IPOs.
According to the police, the fraudsters, operating through a fake app, lured the victim with the promise of low-priced shares and profits. When the victim attempted to withdraw the invested amount, they asked him to first pay an additional Rs 6 lakh, prompting him to realise that it could be a scam.
“The victim made seven transactions via internet banking to the accounts specified by the fraudsters. The investigation is going on. The Cyber Crime police station in Mandi is issuing advisories to the public,” the police said.
The authorities concerned have urged people to use only authorised trading applications and remain vigilant against such scams to avoid losses.
Manmohan Singh, Additional SP, Cyber Crime Police Station, Mandi, stated that a cybercrime victim should contact cyber helpline at 1930 or reach out to the Cyber Crime police station in Mandi at 01905-226900 or via email at pscyber-cr@hp.gov.in to report such cases.
