Mysore/Mysuru: Cyber criminals, who lured a senior citizen into online trading by promising high returns for his investment, have cheated him of Rs. 7.50 lakh.

According to the complaint, on Jan. 30, the mobile phone number of the 80-year-old retired employee was added to a WhatsApp group where information pertaining to primary marketing stocks was provided much to the interest of the senior citizen. Later, the number was added to another WhatsApp group and as per the suggestion, the senior citizen invested Rs. 50,000 and purchased stocks.

Meanwhile, the online trading account of the senior citizen showed that he had earned a profit. Believing it, the senior citizen invested a total of Rs. 7.50 lakh (including earlier investment of Rs. 50,000) in phases and his online trading account showed that he had earned Rs. 7,40,492 as profit.

But when the senior citizen tried to withdraw the profit, he was unable to do so and realised that he had been cheated.

The senior citizen then lodged a complaint with CEN Police and a FIR was registered on Apr. 4.