Pune: Online fraudsters cheated a Parvati-based laundry businessman (48) of Rs1.15 crore between Aug and Oct last year after promising him handsome returns on investment in online trade of shares, the Cyber police said.According to the police, the businessman submitted a complaint application last month. After verification, a formal FIR of cheating was registered with the Pune Cyber police on Wednesday.According to the police, the laundry businessman’s phone number was added to a group on a messaging application in Aug last year, where its members discussed high returns generated by trading shares. The victim read these messages and was impressed with the profit the members earned.The businessman then contacted the group admin. The police said the latter sent him a link to an online application to trade shares. The victim downloaded the application and started trading shares, but he bought shares of less value, the police said.The group admin, according to the police, told the victim to buy high-value shares and IPOs for a handsome profit. At the same time, he promised to help the businessman in buying them.“When the group admin offered to help the victim in buying high-value shares and IPOs a few days later, the latter agreed. The group admin then shared 10 different bank account numbers with the victim, and the latter transferred money to these accounts,” the police said.“When the businessman’s online application showed high profits, he decided to sell the shares. The suspect did not allow him to sell the shares and demanded more money. The victim then realised that he was cheated,” the police said.
