Gwalior/Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A 23-year-old medical student from the city of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh was subjected to a cryptocurrency scam, losing Rs 44.11 lakh. The fraudsters lured her through a Telegram group, promising high returns on investments and task completions.
When she attempted to withdraw her money, she was asked to deposit even more. Realising the scam, the victim filed a complaint with the crime branch, which has now launched an investigation.
According to information, the victim has been identified as 23-year-old Meghna Chouhan, a resident of Gwalior city. On February 5, Meghna received a message on Telegram offering investment opportunities and tasks in exchange for monetary rewards. A man named Suraj added her to a group with four to five other members. Initially, she was assigned small tasks, such as giving a five-star rating to a hotel, for which she received ₹200.
Gradually, she was asked to invest money to earn commissions. After investing ₹1,000 in her eighth task and receiving ₹480 as commission, she believed the platform was genuine.
Fraudster's Clever Tactics
When Meghna invested ₹10,000, she was told she had selected the wrong cryptocurrency, causing her funds to be frozen. To recover her money, she was asked to complete additional tasks and contact a "customer care executive" named Ritu, who claimed ₹3.75 lakh was stuck in her account. Believing the scam, Meghna deposited the amount.
Later, she was told her credit score had dropped, requiring an additional ₹2.40 lakh to fix the issue. The fraudsters continued to extort money through different excuses, ultimately scamming her of ₹44.11 lakh.
Police Investigation
When Meghna tried to withdraw her money, she was contacted by a man named Javed Hussain, who demanded ₹13 lakh more to release her funds. Realizing the fraud, she approached the police.
The crime branch has registered a case and is investigating the Telegram group and individuals involved. A case has been filed under BNS 111 (1) for cyber fraud and phishing. Further investigation is underway.
