Cybercrooks Strike Again: Pune Residents Lose Over ₹46 Lakh In Online Scams
Pune: Unknown Caller Demands ₹70 Lakh From Waste Paper Shop Owner, Booked
A string of online scams has hit Pune, with residents losing a staggering ₹46.27 lakh to cybercrooks. The latest incidents involve a 73-year-old retired employee who was duped of ₹10.27 lakh, and two separate cases of share-trading frauds that resulted in losses of ₹36 lakh.
The 73-year-old victim from Mohammedwadi was threatened with arrest in a money laundering case involving a Maharashtra politician. The scammer, posing as a cybercrime police officer from Mumbai, convinced the victim to transfer money to avoid arrest. The incident occurred between June 7 and 8 last year, and the Kondhwa police have registered a complaint.
In the share-trading frauds, a 32-year-old software engineer lost ₹15.35 lakh after being promised 800% returns on his investments. The scammer added the victim to a group of investors on a messaging application and guided him to download a trading app. The victim transferred money to six accounts of the scammer between September 9 and October 23 last year.
Another victim, a 47-year-old employee of a private protein food company, lost ₹20.93 lakh after being offered a 30% profit on his investments in the stock market. The scammer gained the victim’s confidence by returning profits on initial investments, and the victim went on to invest in various shares and IPOs suggested by the scammer.
The Hinjawadi and Chinchwad police have registered cases in the share-trading frauds, and investigations are underway. These incidents serve as a reminder to be cautious when dealing with online transactions and investments.
