Mumbai: Elderly woman invests in love and crypto, heartbroken after Rs 24 lakh con | Mumbai News
Over a span of a few months as they started chatting, the man explained about his investments in crypto trading and convinced the woman to invest. Over a period of time she invested Rs 24 lakh. However, when she wanted to withdraw money, the fraudster demanded Rs 12 lakh more to return her investments and later her virtual account became dysfunctional.
The woman, who retired from a private firm a few years ago, lodged an FIR earlier this month with the North Region Cyber Police station against two persons for cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy under the IPC, Identity theft and punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource under the IT act.
The complainant told the police that the fraudster sent her a request on the matrimonial site. The two soon exchanged numbers, then started chatting and eventually wanted to get married. He told the complainant that he worked as an engineer in the USA and explained how he was making profit by investing in cryptocurrency trading. He then introduced her to a crypto guide stating he would help her invest money judiciously. On the main accused’s behest, she transferred Rs 24 lakh as investment to five Indian bank accounts during April 2022 and December 2022. She was given access to her virtual account where she could see investments and profits.
She found a total of $62,000 (equal to Rs 51 lakh today) in her virtual account. “When she asked for her money, she was asked to deposit Rs 12 lakh by the guide for currency conversion and paying income tax. The main accused told her that she should pay it and get her investment and profit. A few days later, the virtual account became dysfunctional and the guide also stopped taking her calls. The woman then lodged an FIR. “The two accused were using international numbers to communicate with the complainant,” said an officer.
The investigation into the cyber crime case is being supervised by deputy commissioner (Cyber) Balsing Rajput, led by senior police inspector Vijay Chandanshive and assistant inspector Anuradha Patil.
