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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Money trap: 40% cyber fraud cases this year came as investment bait
Gurgaon: The city appears to have become a fertile ground for cybercriminals preying on people's hunger to earn more and the risk appetite they have. Investment fraud has emerged as the most common cybercrime, accounting for nearly 40% of all online fraud cases reported in the city. It has ensnared thousands, from tech professionals to homemakers and retirees, luring them into fake investment schemes with promises of quick, high returns. The result is often devastation, leaving those who have been targeted chasing shadows and grappling with the loss of their hard-earned money. The city's cyber police cell has registered over 16,000 complaints in the first half of 2025, with 40% cases linked to investment fraud. ACP (cybercrime) Priyanshu Diwan said 1,300 fraudsters were arrested in the first half of this year, up from around 700 in the same period in 2024. "Increased public awareness has helped reduce total financial fraud losses from Rs 155 crore in 2024 to Rs 80 crore in the current year," he said. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gold Rates Today in Gurgaon | Silver Rates Today in Gurgaon The modus operandi of these fraudsters is simple yet effective, according to police. Often operating through networks that are run from foreign shores, they bait targets with fraudulent stock trading apps, fake cryptocurrency platforms, or get-rich-quick schemes disseminated through Telegram and WhatsApp groups. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Initially, victims are shown small, fabricated profits to build trust by cyber cons. Once convinced, they are encouraged to invest large sums, only to find the websites vanish, contacts go silent and their money gone without a trace. A case in point is a 57-year-old private employee from Sector 23, who was added to a WhatsApp group in Sept 2024. The group, comprising 56 members, was formed to give lessons on stock market investment. By Oct, he had downloaded an app and deposited Rs 1.3 crore into various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. When he attempted to withdraw the money, he was asked to transfer an additional Rs 20 lakh as "investor tax". The moment he stopped transferring money, the fraudsters stopped attending calls. In another instance, a chartered accountant's daughter from Faridabad was conned of Rs 7.6 crore via a Facebook link promising lucrative stock market returns. Despite police efforts, which led to the arrest of 16 people across multiple cities, the financial losses continue to mount. Central to these scams is use of mule accounts — legitimate bank accounts rented or sold for a fee — which help funnel defrauded money and park it. Over 40% of those arrested in cyber fraud cases this year, according to cyber police, were found to have provided their bank accounts to criminals in exchange for cash or commissions. "The network of mule accounts is the lifeline of these fraud networks, enabling fraudsters to move money and hide their tracks," said ACP Diwan. The complexity of dismantling these networks lies in the rapid transfer of money through multiple accounts, conversion to cryptocurrency, and movement abroad, a police officer said. "Some of the mule account holders have even travelled to countries like Dubai and Cambodia to sell information on dozens of their accounts for hefty sums," he added. Police investigations have revealed that fraudsters contact potential mule account providers via messaging apps, offering money in exchange for account details, making money recovery and tracking exceedingly difficult. Police investigations have found that fraudsters pay commissions ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 2 lakh in exchange for handing over access to their bank accounts. Many mule account holders, according to police, claim ignorance about larger fraud operations. "Some said they were told their accounts would be used for business purposes or foreign remittances, while others look the other way, tempted by the promise of quick money," said the police officer. ACP Diwan said the cyber police are working extensively to dismantle the mule account network. "Without these accounts, fraudsters would struggle to operate. This year alone, more than 400 suspects have been arrested for providing accounts to criminals," he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Safe Punjab portal led to over 5,000 drug FIRs in a year: Cheema
Over 5,000 drug related cases were registered in a year after the launch of Safe Punjab WhatsApp chatbot, where people could provide information and tips on drug peddlers and hotspots, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday. The WhatsApp chatbot is accessible at 97791-00200. (REUTERS) The WhatsApp chatbot portal, launched by chief minister Bhagwant Mann in August 2024, achieved a commendable conversion rate of 32%, Cheema said at a press conference here. It helped in transforming public input into concrete police action, said Cheema, who also serves as chairman of the anti-drug drive 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' cabinet sub-committee. The minister said that the portal has been instrumental in registration of over 5,000 FIRs in a year. The chatbot, accessible at 9779100200, has positioned the 'Safe Punjab' portal as one of the nation's most effective public portals for police engagement, he added 'The portal has become a vital source of intelligence and a potent weapon in the campaign against drugs, which was officially initiated on March 1 this year to intensify the state's efforts against drug trafficking,' he added. Cheema said that since its inception of the campaign, a total of 16,322 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act, leading to the arrest of 25,552 individuals. He said that the state government has also taken decisive action against drug smugglers by demolishing 182 of their illegal properties. He said these efforts have resulted in major drug seizures, including 1,054 kg of heroin, 21,534 kg of poppy husk, 366 kg of opium, and over three million tablets, capsules, and pills. The minister also criticised the previous SAD-BJP alliance, accusing it of patronising the narcotics trade for a decade, and also pointed out the failure of the subsequent Congress government to take strong action against the drug menace between 2017 and 2022.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Devotees scammed in online booking for Srirangam Yatri Nivas
Trichy: Planning to visit the famed Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam and spend a couple of days at the HR&CE-run Yatri Nivas there? By all means go ahead, but steer clear of "online booking" offers. For, the guest house doesn't take reservations on the internet, but cybercriminals have been busy duping unsuspecting pilgrims who go for it. Since December, several people who made 'online reservations' for lodging through these fake websites have been scammed, according to complaints registered with cyber police, accessed by TOI. HR&CE sources said they have so far filed seven complaints in connection with the scam, which involves amounts ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹16,500. Police and temple officials have been left in a tizzy. The budget-friendly lodging complex controlled by the HR&CE department was opened in Jan 2015 and serves as a major spot for devotees travelling from across the country to Srirangam temple. Speaking to several of the victims, TOI learned that the modus operandi of the scamsters was to lure people who begin searching online for 'guest house bookings in Srirangam.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Back Pain Treatments That Might Surprise You! Back Pain Treatment | Search Ads Undo The fraudulent websites often appear at the top of the search results with a 'sponsored' tag. Drawn in by the serene images of the lodging, unsuspecting victims then enter their phone numbers on the fake site. "Thereafter, I received a WhatsApp message from a number directing me to pay ₹5,000 and ₹1,450 in two instalments via UPI. After paying it, I waited for a while but did not receive a booking confirmation," says Amaresh K from Nandyala in Andhra Pradesh, who was scammed on July 21. When he called the number, strangely a man spoke to him in Hindi. "And when I asked for a refund, I was told to pay another ₹4,000 to process it," he told TOI. "When I visited the temple, I went straight to the lodging, where it was confirmed that it was a scam and there was no system for online reservations," he said. A senior HR&CE official said the matter has been raised with the commissioner of police. Police have so far filed only CSRs, not FIRs, and have not tracked down anyone operating the scam. They said they have blocked multiple websites linked to the fraud. "But the scamsters operate much like those sending hoax bomb threats. They work on different botnets, and the website domains keep mushrooming," a senior police official at Trichy district cybercrime wing said. The official added that they have advised HR&CE department to publicise the fact that no online reservations are taken. HR&CE sources said they have pasted instructions at the lodging and are flashing the warning on the temple website regularly. "Police say they have not filed FIRs because we have not been able to bring the victims in person, instead of us (HR&CE) lodging complaints on their behalf. We have asked the victims to register their complaints from their respective places at their local police stations," said the HR&CE official. A senior city police official told TOI that an investigation is underway. It was difficult to go beyond a point as the victims are mostly in another location, sometimes even outside the state, when they are scammed, he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
