Cyber fraudsters, luring victims with promises of high returns, have cheated two city residents of a combined ₹43 lakh through fraudulent online investment platforms. In both cases, victims were drawn in via social media groups and digital investment portals, shown inflated profits on dashboards, and later prevented from withdrawing funds unless they paid additional amounts. Police have registered separate cases and initiated investigations.
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Woman cheated of ₹27.50 lakh through fake investment group
According to the complaint, Neelam Sharma, a resident of the Shivala area, came across a Facebook group titled “48 Illara Capital Connect” in November 2025. After joining the group, she was contacted by a woman identifying herself as Sanya, who added her to a WhatsApp group named “VI 599” and helped her open an online investment account on a platform called “Illara Pro”.
Sharma told police that group members regularly posted messages claiming guaranteed profits through stock market and other investments. Trusting the representations, she invested ₹27.50 lakh between December 1 and December 16, 2025.
Within days, her online account began showing a balance of nearly ₹76 lakh, including alleged profits. However, when she attempted to withdraw the amount, the fraudsters demanded an additional ₹34 lakh as IPO investment. Later, she was told that unless she paid a penalty of ₹11 lakh, the funds would not be released.
Realising she had been cheated, Sharma approached the police. On her complaint, Kotwali police registered a case under cyber fraud provisions and launched a probe.
Businessman’s family loses ₹15.81 lakh after social media advertisement
In the second case, cyber criminals targeted a businessman’s family from the Juhi area, cheating them of ₹15.81 lakh. The victim’s family stated that around one-and-a-half years ago, they saw a Facebook advertisement promoting an online investment platform named “Sethchain.com”, which promised safe investments and high returns in the stock market.
Initially, the victim invested a small amount and received returns, which strengthened his confidence in the platform. Subsequently, he invested larger sums, including funds belonging to his father, taking the total investment to ₹15.81 lakh.
Although profits were reflected in the online account, attempts to withdraw the money failed. When the victim contacted the platform operators, they demanded further investment. On pressing for a refund, the victim was blocked from the platform and all communication channels.
Following the complaint, Juhi police registered a case of cyber fraud and began investigations to trace the accused.
Rising trend of online investment fraud
Cybercrime researchers say such cases are part of a wider national pattern. According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), investment-related cyber fraud has emerged as one of the fastest-growing digital crimes in India.
FCRF analysis indicates that fraudsters commonly operate through fake trading platforms, WhatsApp and Telegram groups, and social media advertisements, offering unrealistic returns. Victims are shown fabricated profits on dashboards to build trust, but withdrawals are blocked using excuses such as taxes, penalties or fresh investment requirements.
The foundation has warned that the balances displayed on such platforms are often entirely fictitious, designed only to psychologically trap investors into sending more money.
Police advisory
Police have urged citizens to exercise extreme caution while responding to online investment offers, especially those circulated through social media and messaging platforms. Officials advised investors to verify whether a platform is registered with authorised regulatory bodies before transferring funds.
In case of suspected fraud, victims have been advised to immediately contact the cybercrime helpline or approach the nearest police station to improve the chances of recovery and swift action.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.