Latest news with #PriyaSharma
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sr citizen duped of 1.1 cr after ‘stock mkt classes'
Kolkata: A 71-year-old resident of a condo in Ultadanga fell victim to an international cyber fraud scheme , losing Rs 1.1 crore through a fake trading platform that cops suspect was being operated from Southeast Asia. The 1.5-month-long fraud began with the accused arranging "classes" for the victims to accustom themselves to share trading. They were asked to download apps and use designated websites to trade. The victim, a resident of Bidhannagar Road, filed a complaint stating that he was defrauded between March 11 and April 29 through a mobile application and its associated trading group. "The victims were asked to sign up, and regular tutorials were held before 'actual trading in stocks' began. The victim, in this case, was given returns in two instalments of Rs 1,500 and Rs 26 lakh, credited to his trading account. Cops said it is unclear if the returns could actually be credited beyond what was being projected virtually. The initial probe revealed that this app and the website used to trap the victims were developed in one of the Southeast Asian countries. However, Indian SIM numbers were used to run WhatsApp groups and carry on chats with the victims," said an officer. The primary suspect, who identified herself as Priya Sharma, allegedly contacted the complainant through multiple mobile numbers. " The fraudsters created a facade of legitimacy by establishing a WhatsApp group with 135-140 members. They even processed small initial withdrawals each day to gain the victim's trust, besides allowing two withdrawals," said an officer. The perpetrators then charged the complainant for larger withdrawals, including a 5% "account usage charge" and a "refundable" account verification charge of Rs 10,00,000. The scammers allegedly operated under the leadership of Bharat Shah, who posed as the group's director and regularly provided stock recommendations, including tips about IPOs and SPOs. The case has been registered under multiple sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy, along with sections pertaining to cheating by impersonation, criminal breach of trust, and forgery. The divisional cyber cell, with help from the DD cyber cell, has launched a probe and is working to trace the money trail.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gandhidham man loses 7L to bogus stock trading app
Rajkot: A 37-year-old man from Anjar, Hiren Hadiya, lodged a complaint at the Kutch (east) Cybercrime police station against individuals associated with a certain investment application. According to the complaint, Hadiya, an employee of a private company, was lured with the promise of high returns from stock investments by individuals who posed as Priya Sharma, an assistant, and Bharat Shah, the head of the investment app's operations. These persons extracted Rs 4.85 lakh from Hadiya and Rs 2.26 lakh from his friend Vijay Vala's account through online said that in March, while browsing Facebook, he came across a sponsored post from "Ask Investment Managers", offering guidance on online and block trading. Upon clicking on the post, he was added to a WhatsApp group where one Priya Sharma introduced him to trading concepts and directed him to download and register on their investment first deposited Rs 7,000. He was soon shown a profit of Rs 1,159, which he successfully withdrew to his account. Confident that the operation was legitimate, he deposited Rs 8,000 and was shown a profit of Rs 1,950, which was again transferred to his account. Hadiya then kept making deposits, ultimately transferring Rs 7,11, app showed his cumulative profit to be Rs 10,83,802. When he tried to withdraw the funds, the transaction failed. Priya Sharma and Bharat Shah, demanded a 20% penalty payment and a further deposit to release the funds. Unable to arrange more money, Hadiya realized he had been cheated.
News18
23-04-2025
- News18
On Camera, California Woman Hurls Racial Slurs At Black Lady; Police Launch Hate Crime Probe
Last Updated: More controversies erupted after an X user identified the offender as a Hindu named Priya Sharma. A woman in California came under fire after a video showed her abusing a black woman with racial slurs. The controversial incident reportedly unfolded at the parking lot of the Bay Area over the weekend. In the footage, the woman, sitting in the driver's seat of her car, was seen hurling racial remarks at someone. The verbal feud supposedly started over a parking issue. According to reports, the offender called the black woman 'ni**er" and even mocked her for her appearance, mentioning 'fake a** eyelashes*. After the clip led to outrage on social media, California police launched an immediate investigation, charging the offender with a hate crime. 'Due to the nature of the verbal exchange between the involved parties, the incident has been classified as a hate incident and is currently under investigation by the department's criminal investigation bureau," the Pinole Police Department shared in its official statement. What level of N fatigue does Priya have? — Tom Hennessy (@Tomhennessey69) April 15, 2025 The victim was shattered by the sudden attack. She opened up about her experience during an interaction with the California-based publication, KTVU. 'It's quite unfortunate that the verbiage she was using. It's unacceptable. I don't understand why she was using it towards anybody in public at all. She's obviously not supposed to be using that type of vulgar language," she revealed under the conditions of anonymity. After the post came to light, several other social media buffs rubbished those claims. One of them said that the woman was not a Hindu, but a Christian named Natasha Chand who hails from Fiji. Some also put forward a screenshot of her Facebook handle as evidence. This person openly lying. The real name of that woman in the video is Natasha Chand , Fiji Christian. — Pratham (@panther2080) April 16, 2025 California Police have yet to disclose the identity of the offender. She reportedly has a criminal history. The woman was allegedly charged with the offence of repeated theft at a beauty store in Concord, and the case is yet to be settled. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz, and global sensations. From heartwarming reunions to bizarre events, it keeps you updated on what's capturing the internet's attention
Khaleej Times
07-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Remittance boom: UAE leads GCC as India hits record $129.4b in 2024
Remittances to South Asia from advanced economies have surpassed outflows from the GCC, though the Gulf remains a critical pillar, with the UAE retaining the rank as the top source country in the region, according to newly released data. In 2024, India solidified its position as the world's leading remittance recipient, with overseas workers sending a record $129.4 billion — a figure boosted by an unprecedented $36 billion in the December quarter alone, per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). GCC-wide remittance outflows dipped slightly by 0.4 per cent in 2023 to $131.5 billion, reflecting post-pandemic adjustments and policy shifts, such as Saudi Arabia's decision to allow migrant families to relocate, reducing the need for cash transfers home. Despite this, the UAE stood out, contributing $21.6 billion to India—19.2 per cent of its total inflows—making it the second-largest source globally after the United States. A rupee-dirham payment pact has streamlined transactions, enhancing the UAE's role. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar together accounted for 11 per cent of India's remittances, underscoring the Gulf's enduring relevance. India's migrant stock has tripled since 1990, rising from 6.6 million to 18.5 million in 2024, with half residing in GCC countries. This diaspora expansion has fuelled India's remittance surge, marking its third consecutive year above $100 billion. Globally, India has led remittance rankings since 2008, driven by two migration streams: Skilled professionals in tech and healthcare flocking to advanced economies like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, sending high-value transfers, and a blue-collar workforce in the GCC, historically the dominant source until surpassed by advanced economies in 2023-24. The RBI projects remittances could climb to $160 billion by 2029, propelled by skilled migration to the West and GCC's diversification beyond oil, which may open new job opportunities. 'India's remittance growth reflects an evolving diaspora — more IT experts in advanced economies and steady GCC contributions,' said Priya Sharma, an economist at HSBC. 'Innovations like India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and bilateral agreements could further bolster inflows.' Globally, remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached $685 billion in 2024, with South Asia's growth of 11.8 per cent outpacing the global average of 5.8 per cent. India's $129.4 billion dwarfed Mexico's $68 billion and China's $48 billion, the latter hitting a two-decade low share of 5.3 per cent due to declining low-skilled emigration. Pakistan and Bangladesh also contributed to South Asia's robust performance. The shift from GCC to advanced economies highlights changing migration patterns. In 2024, advanced economies accounted for the largest share of India's inflows, though the UAE led GCC contributions with 27.7 per cent of the regional total. 'The Gulf's share has softened, but its economic recovery could stabilise outflows,' Sharma noted. 'Family reunification policies in Saudi Arabia may temper flows, yet the UAE's dominance signals resilience. ' Additional data from the World Bank shows India's remittance costs remain among the lowest globally, averaging 4.2 per cent per transaction, compared to the global average of 6.3 per cent—a factor supporting its sustained inflows. Analysts caution, however, that diversification and cost reduction will be the key to long-term stability. 'India's remittance engine is firing on all cylinders — high-value Western flows and reliable GCC streams,' said Anil Gupta, a migration expert at the Observer Research Foundation. 'But as Gulf economies evolve, India must deepen digital payment systems and skill development to stay ahead.' With its diversified migrant base—spanning tech professionals in the US and UK to construction workers in the Gulf — India's remittance dominance looks set to endure. 'As global economic uncertainties loom, the interplay between advanced economies and a reviving GCC will shape the next chapter of this vital lifeline,' analysts said.
