It is surprising that educated are falling prey to fraudsters

Mysore/Mysuru: In separate cases, four persons have been cheated to the tune of over Rs. 36 lakh by online fraudsters in city. Surprisingly,  educated resident are falling prey to fraudsters despite Police creating awareness about online crimes.

In the first case, Veeresh, a resident of Jayanagar in city, has lost Rs. 12,50,000 to online fraudsters.

Veeresh, while going through information pertaining to mutual funds on Facebook, saw the website link of Creative Business School, which suddenly appeared on the screen. When he clicked on the link, he got the message asking him to join the WhatsApp group to get information about the Share Market.

After joining the WhatsApp group, Veeresh was able to receive information about the Share Market and also received a message to download ZIOPTO app, invest money through the app and get good returns for the investment.

Believing it, Veeresh downloaded the app and initially invested Rs. 12,500 as instructed by the fraudsters and transferred the money to the Bank account provided by the fraudsters. Later, Veeresh had transferred a total of Rs. 12.50 lakh in phases.

After a few days, he received a message which stated that he has received profit for his investment and to withdraw the profit, he (Veeresh) should invest Rs. 3 lakh. Sensing something fishy, Veeresh enquired about the app, only to learn that he has been cheated.

In the second case, a city student has lost a total of Rs. 10.76 lakh to fraudsters.

The 21-year-old student from Ramakrishnanagar, while using the Telegram app on his mobile phone, came across several website links pertaining to stock analyst and clicked on the ‘Water Way Wealth Stock Analyst’ link. He then found information regarding how to invest in stock market and gain profit. He also got a message to install ICSG app and invest money to the app to get huge profit.

Believing it, the student invested a total of Rs. 10.76 lakh through the app and after a few days, he found the app showing Rs. 24 lakh profit for his investment. The student then tried to transfer the profit amount to his Bank account but was rejected.

He then questioned about it on the WhatsApp group only to receive the message asking him to pay the tax to receive the profit. It was then the student came to know that he has been cheated.

In the third case, Govindaswamy of Kumbarageri, who joined SSGA & DAVID BOAL INDIA WhatsApp group pertaining to investment and invested Rs. 7.90 lakh, has been cheated.

After investing, Govindaswamy came to know that the WhasApp group had become defunct and realised that he has been taken for a ride.

In the fourth case, Razak, an engineer and a resident of Rajivnagar has lost Rs. 4.80 lakh to online fraudsters.

Razak clicked on the Stock Analyst link on his Facebook page and later joined Zephyrus Elite Investment WhatsApp Group and invested Rs. 2.40 lakh through the website suggested in the WhatsApp group and again invested Rs. 2.40 lakh.

Razak received a message stating that he has earned Rs. 1.38 lakh profit. But when he tried to withdraw the profit money, his transaction was rejected and when he called the mobile phone number from which the caller was instructing him and told him the problem, the website page suddenly disappeared. Razak then came to know that he has been cheated.

All the victims have lodged complaints at city’s CEN Crime Police Station and the Police, who have registered a case, have urged the people to be very careful while investing online and double check the company to which they were investing to avoid getting cheated of their hard earned money.