Mumbai: A senior Air India pilot has fallen victim to a sophisticated online investment scam, losing over ₹3.16 crore under the pretext of earning high returns through stock market investments.
Freddy Feroze Daruwala (56), a resident of Andheri and a pilot with Air India, filed a complaint with the West Cyber Region Police Station, alleging that he was duped after being lured by fraudulent stock trading tips and a fake investment platform.
The scam began in May 2025, when Daruwala came across YouTube videos of well-known stock market analyst Sanjiv Bhasin. Shortly after, he received WhatsApp messages from two mobile numbers — +91 9630785043 and +91 9151275802 — sent by a woman identifying herself as Anuprita Daga, claiming to represent SMC Global Securities.
Daruwala was added to a WhatsApp group where he was regularly sent investment tips, which helped gain his trust. He was later instructed to download a fake app named ‘SMC,’ through which he was encouraged to invest in IPOs and shares. Believing the platform to be legitimate, Daruwala transferred a total of ₹3,16,42,282 into various bank accounts linked to the app.
Initially, the app showed his investments yielding profits. However, when he attempted to withdraw the money, he was asked to pay an additional 10% of the amount as a “processing fee.” Suspicious of the demand, he investigated further and realized he had been scammed.
Daruwala’s wife also used the same app and was similarly misled. A formal complaint has been registered against the developers of the fake app, the WhatsApp group administrators, and the holders of the bank accounts where the money was deposited. Cyber police have launched an investigation into the matter and are tracing the digital trail of the accused.
