Cyber Fraud: ‘Facebook Friend’ Cheats 66-Year-Old Kothrud Businessman of Rs 21.6 Lakh
Cyber Fraud: ‘Facebook Friend’ Cheats 66-Year-Old Pune Businessman of Rs 21.6 Lakh
Woman posing as Bengaluru-based interior designer lured victim into fake crypto trading app; FIR registered, cyber police begin investigation.
Pune: A 66-year-old businessman from Kothrud was allegedly cheated of Rs 21.6 lakh by a woman he befriended on Facebook, who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency trading.
An FIR was registered at Kothrud police station on February 5 after verification by the Cyber Police.
According to the complaint, the businessman received a Facebook friend request on December 30, 2025, from a woman identifying herself as “Ananya alias Lavanya,” who claimed to be an interior designer based in Bengaluru. She showed interest in his business and expressed a desire to work with him. The two began chatting daily and even planned to meet in March.
The woman also spoke to him through WhatsApp audio and video calls and shared photos of herself and her family to gain his trust.
On January 7, 2026, during a WhatsApp call, she suggested that he invest in cryptocurrency, promising high returns. Initially hesitant, the businessman agreed after she asked him to invest just Rs 10,000. Following her instructions, he downloaded the “Binance App” and registered through a link she sent.
He transferred Rs 10,000 on January 7 and another Rs 10,000 on January 8. The app then showed that he had received 200 USDT (a cryptocurrency stablecoin). Later, he also received Rs 60,000 in his bank account after following certain steps on the app, which increased his confidence.
Encouraged by this, he invested more money. The woman added him to a WhatsApp group, where another person guided him on further investments.
Police said that by January 14, the businessman had transferred around Rs 21.63 lakh through multiple online transactions. The app showed that his investment had grown to nearly Rs 98 lakh. However, when he was asked to transfer an additional Rs 29 lakh to withdraw his profits, he became suspicious and realised he had been cheated.
He approached the Cyber Police Station in Pune on January 18. After inquiry, an FIR was registered on February 5.
Police have booked unknown persons under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Investigators are examining the phone numbers, Facebook account and bank accounts used in the fraud.
