Pune: Russian Accused Among 2 Arrested For Swindling Computer Engineer Of Rs 71 Lakh Through Instagram, WhatsApp Stock Market Scam

Pune Russian Accused Among 2 Arrested For Swindling Computer Engineer Of Rs 71 Lakh Through Instagram, WhatsApp Stock Market Scam.

Pune: Russian Accused Among 2 Arrested For Swindling Computer Engineer Of Rs 71 Lakh Through Instagram, WhatsApp Stock Market Scam.

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In a disturbing case of cyber fraud, a computer engineer from Pimpri-Chinchwad lost ₹71 lakh after clicking on an advertisement on Instagram. The scam involved enticing victims through fake stock market investment groups with promises of high returns. The Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber police have arrested a Russian man named Tony, also known as Anatoliy Miranov, in Goa regarding this case, while another suspect, Shreyas Sanjay Mane, is already in custody.

The incident was uncovered when the victim, residing in Wakad, encountered an advertisement about stock market investments while watching Instagram reels. Without any suspicion, he clicked on the ad, which resulted in him being added to a WhatsApp group dedicated to stock market investments. According to DCP (Crime) Sandeep Doifode, the group, using various mobile numbers, claimed to offer insider information on stock trends and IPOs. The group members persuaded the victim to invest large amounts of money through a fake website, assuring him of substantial returns. Over time, the complainant ended up transferring a total of ₹71 lakh to this fraudulent scheme.

After realizing he had been scammed, the complainant reported the incident to the Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police. The cyber police began an investigation, discovering that the bank accounts involved in the transactions were linked to Goa.

Following this discovery, the cyber police traveled to Goa and, with help from local authorities, arrested a Russian national named Tony. Previously, another suspect, Shreyas Sanjay Mane, had already been captured. The investigation revealed that Shreyas had collected bank account details and mobile SIM cards from acquaintances under the guise of gaming activities. He then went to Goa, where he worked with Tony to carry out cyber frauds.

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The police believe that a significant portion of the stolen money has been sent to Dubai and other international locations. Additionally, a third person named Mark is also suspected to be involved in the cybercrime operation but is currently at large, with efforts underway to find him.

The cyber police have indicated that this case may be part of a larger cybercrime syndicate. Tony, the Russian suspect, was already known to the Gujarat police for his involvement in similar crimes. The trio of Tony, Shreyas, and Mark seems to have been running a network that targets victims across India using tactics such as social media advertisements and fake stock market groups.

The incident underscores the increasing dangers of unregulated social media use. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram are being misused by fraudsters to target unsuspecting users. Scammers often attract victims with appealing ads and fake investment schemes, according to the police.

The cyber police have advised the public to be cautious when engaging with ads on social media. Clicking on unverified links or sharing personal information with unknown entities can result in significant financial losses.

Cyber Police Inspector Ravikiran Nale stressed the importance of being vigilant online. He stated, “Fraudsters are using sophisticated methods to exploit victims. It is crucial to verify the authenticity of any investment opportunity, especially those that promise quick or high returns.”

The police have also urged users to immediately report suspicious advertisements or activities to help prevent others from becoming victims of such scams. This action was taken by a team led by DCP (Crime) Sandeep Doifode, ACP (Crime 1) Dr. Vishal Hire, and Police Inspector Ravikiran Nale from the Cyber Police Station. The team included API Pravin Swami, PSI Sagar Poman, Prakash Katkade, and various police personnel such as Hemant Kharat, Deepak Bhosale, Atul Lokhande, Shrikant Kabule, Saurabh Ghate, Deepak Mane, Parashuram Chavan, Suraj Jadhav, Suranjan Chavan, Aniket Temgire, Mahesh Motkar, Sachin Ghadge, Nilesh Deshmukh, Dipali Chavan, Monika Vittewar, Smita Patil, and Dipali Tope.

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