Mumbai Cyber Fraud: Father-Daughter Duo Loses ₹9 Lakh To Fake YouTube Investment Ad In Kandivali

Mumbai: A father-daughter duo from Kandivali became the latest victims of cyber fraud after falling for a deceptive advertisement on YouTube, which promised to double their investment. The scam cost them a total of Rs 9 lakh. Kandivali police have registered a case and launched an investigation.

The incident took place on March 20, 2025, when 57-year-old Vinod Mehta came across a YouTube advertisement for a company named BlinkX-Pro. The ad claimed that investors could double their money by participating in the firm’s schemes, according to the Loksatta report.

Believing the claim, Mehta contacted the phone number provided in the ad, which connected him to a person identified as Ninad Kadam. Kadam convinced Mehta to invest in the stock market through BlinkX-Pro, claiming quick and guaranteed returns.

Following the instructions, Mehta downloaded an app named BlinkX-Pro and was added to a WhatsApp group. There, he was contacted by a woman named Riddhi Shah, who offered guidance on stock purchases. Trusting her advice, Mehta made his initial investments of Rs 20,000 in one account and Rs 6,500 in another, as reported. The app falsely displayed profits, which further increased his confidence.

Encouraged by the apparent gains, Mehta asked his daughter to join in the investment. Both continued putting in more money based on the group’s directions. Over time, their total investment reached around Rs 9 lakh. However, when they tried to withdraw their returns, they realised they had been duped.

The company turned out to be fraudulent, and the app was part of a well-planned scam. Realising the deception, Mehta approached the Kandivali police and filed a complaint. Authorities have since registered the case, and further investigations are underway. According to the report, the Kandivali police have charged Ninad Kadam and Riddhi Shah under sections 66 (C) and 66 (D) of the Information Technology Act, as well as section 318 (4) for cheating.