PUNE: An info-tech firm employee from Hinjewadi and a private company staffer from Chandannagar were duped of Rs14.48 lakh and Rs1.75 lakh, respectively, by online crooks who lured them with handsome returns on investments in cryptocurrencies.
A 43-year-old software professional from Marunji in Mulshi filed a complaint with the Hinjewadi police on Thursday. An officer told TOI that on Wednesday evening, the complainant received a message from an unknown number about profits he could earn if he invested in cryptocurrency.
“On responding to that message the complainant was added to a group on a social media platform and told to open a crypto account. After getting an account number, he was told to deposit money. He transferred Rs14.48 lakh,” the officer said. “When his crypto account reflected a balance of Rs28.80 lakh, he tried to withdraw it. However, he was unable to and tried to contact the person who had initially called him. But, his cellphone number was not reachable,” the officer said.
When the complainant checked his account, he found that the money was transferred to five different accounts – three private banks and two UPI numbers. After realising that he was duped, he approached the police and filed a complaint.
In the Hadapsar case, a 39-year-old employee of a private company lost Rs1.75 lakh also to an unknown cybercrook, who lured him with the same promise as the other victim. “The man opened a crypto account and transferred the money,” an officer from the Hadapsar police said. When he could not withdraw his profit, he approached the police.
An officer from the cyber crime cell of the Pimpri Chinchwad police told TOI, “Most of these crooks are from Rajasthan, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In these cases, we tried to trace them through the bank accounts and cellphone numbers. We think the crooks in both cases might be the same.”
According to the police, the crooks send messages to random mobile numbers and try to lure whoever responds by offering handsome returns and then dupe them.
“We are working on some clues and we have sent our team outside the state for the investigation,” the officer added.
A 43-year-old software professional from Marunji in Mulshi filed a complaint with the Hinjewadi police on Thursday. An officer told TOI that on Wednesday evening, the complainant received a message from an unknown number about profits he could earn if he invested in cryptocurrency.
“On responding to that message the complainant was added to a group on a social media platform and told to open a crypto account. After getting an account number, he was told to deposit money. He transferred Rs14.48 lakh,” the officer said. “When his crypto account reflected a balance of Rs28.80 lakh, he tried to withdraw it. However, he was unable to and tried to contact the person who had initially called him. But, his cellphone number was not reachable,” the officer said.
When the complainant checked his account, he found that the money was transferred to five different accounts – three private banks and two UPI numbers. After realising that he was duped, he approached the police and filed a complaint.
In the Hadapsar case, a 39-year-old employee of a private company lost Rs1.75 lakh also to an unknown cybercrook, who lured him with the same promise as the other victim. “The man opened a crypto account and transferred the money,” an officer from the Hadapsar police said. When he could not withdraw his profit, he approached the police.
An officer from the cyber crime cell of the Pimpri Chinchwad police told TOI, “Most of these crooks are from Rajasthan, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In these cases, we tried to trace them through the bank accounts and cellphone numbers. We think the crooks in both cases might be the same.”
According to the police, the crooks send messages to random mobile numbers and try to lure whoever responds by offering handsome returns and then dupe them.
“We are working on some clues and we have sent our team outside the state for the investigation,” the officer added.
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