New Delhi: Two senior residents of Vasant Kunj, aged 70 and 65 years, were allegedly cheated of over Rs 1.5 crore after being lured by scammers who posed as representatives of a reputed financial institution and promised them unusually high returns on their investments. The cheats approached the two elderly residents, who are also relatives, in Oct last year through social media with an investment opportunity. They claimed to be associated with a well-known financial group.
The complainants were added to multiple WhatsApp groups and had had one-on-one conversations with a woman, who identified herself as Kiara Sharma. She introduced herself as an investment adviser. Sharma shared a link that connected the complainant to a WhatsApp group comprising 177 members and facilitated a one-on-one interaction within the group. The two were instructed to register on the company’s website by filling out an online form, after which a mobile app was shared with him. Sharma allegedly lured the victims by displaying projected profits and exaggerated investment values. The gang allegedly showed the investors fake documents, forged application forms and shared links to fraudulent websites. The app they shared showed fictitious profits. The elderly people trusted these documents and began transferring money in early Nov. The app reportedly reflected a holding value of over Rs 5 crore, further reinforcing the illusion of legitimacy. They transferred approximately Rs 1,54,90,000 in tranches to multiple bank accounts held in the names of various firms and entities. Police said the money was routed through several NEFT and RTGS transactions to accounts allegedly controlled by the fraudsters. The victims were repeatedly assured of substantial returns through the stock market and over-the-counter trading. To maintain credibility, the gang credited small amounts periodically into the complainants’ accounts. They described these as “profits” or partial refunds, which were later reinvested. The duo suspected foul play after persisting with their requests to liquidate their holdings and exit the group. They stopped transactions and started checking about the group online. They then came across media reports linking the operators to a major cyber fraud case in Noida involving the siphoning away of Rs 12 crore. They lodged a detailed complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, following which a case was registered. No one has been arrested yet.
