Noida businessman loses ₹9 crore in a WhatsApp trading scam. Police urge public vigilance against online frauds. Reach out for help.
A businessman in Noida fell victim to a scam via WhatsApp, losing over ₹9 crore in an online trading fraud, as reported by the police. The fraud occurred over a month-long period after Rajat Bothra, a resident of sector 40, joined a WhatsApp group about stock market trading on May 1.
An FIR was filed at the Cyber Crime police station in sector 36, and ₹1.62 crore of the transacted funds has been frozen in the businessman's account. Investigations are ongoing.
Bothra stated that he joined the WhatsApp group on May 1, which provided information about making profits from share market trading. He began making small investments and by May 27, he had invested ₹9.09 crore. However, after this, his trading account was closed, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Ranjan Rai from the Cyber Crime police station.
Upon receiving the complaint, the police swiftly initiated an investigation and managed to freeze ₹1.62 crore in his bank account. Further investigation revealed that the bank accounts receiving the defrauded money were located in various places across India, including Chennai, Assam, Bhubaneswar, Haryana, and Rajasthan. A special team has been formed to investigate the case and apprehend the cybercriminals involved.
The police cautioned the public to remain vigilant against emerging online crimes and encouraged them to report any suspicious activities promptly. They advised reaching out to them using the central helpline number 1930, emergency number 112, or visiting the cyber desk at local police stations. It serves as a reminder of the importance of staying cautious and alert in the digital age to avoid falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
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