Unkindest cut: Fraudsters ‘train’, dupe cancer patient of ₹20 lakh
Times of India | 13 February 2024
Kolkata: A cancer patient, currently employed with the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC), was duped of Rs 20 lakh by cyber fraudsters on the pretext of investing in stocks. The victim, a Beliaghata resident, was allegedly trained in share trading for a considerable period by the fraudsters before being cheated. The case indicates a new modus operandi adopted by the cyber crooks, in which they first win the victim’s trust by training them and then commit the fraud.
The latest case is being investigated by both the Beliaghata police and the cyber cell of Kolkata Police. The victim was recovering at home when he received a link last December on Facebook asking him if he was interested in trading in shares, sources said. As time went by, he mentioned that he was a cancer patient and the caller at the other end promised good returns if he (the victim) would learn the art of investing in shares and maintaining portfolios.
“After training, the victim invested in shares and earned decent profits. It was then that his ‘instructor’ asked him to invest through Telegram app promising him of more returns. Some amount, earned as ‘profit’, was transferred in the share trading wallet by a third party. After some time, he was informed that his wallet had accumulated Rs 1 crore. However, when the victim tried to withdraw after investing around Rs 6 lakh, he was asked to pay a tax worth Rs 14 lakh. Initially hesitant, he complied after receiving assurances on the Telegram app. As soon as he paid up, all his contacts with the app was cut off,” said an investigating officer.
In east division, another victim had lodged a complaint claiming that he was duped of about Rs 20.8 lakh. The complainant had received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number offering him an online job, to which he agreed.
He was then inducted into a Telegram group and asked to perform certain tasks, which he did, and was then told about some ‘prepaid task’ for which he had to invest Rs 2,000 and would earn Rs 2,800 in return.
So he invested, and duly received Rs 2,800. This continued until he paid a little over Rs 20.80 lakh. The accused stopped all communication later.