Techie falls for crypto bait, loses Rs 1 crore to tricksters | Pune News
PUNE: A 46-year-old software engineer from Wadgaonsheri has been duped of around Rs 1 crore by conmen on the pretext of giving good returns by investing in crypto currencies.
The complainant started investing the money from September 20, 2021. Talking about the progress of the investigation, senior inspector of cybercrime police Minal Patil said, “We have sought details of the phone numbers that were used to send messages through an internet-based messenger app. We have also written to the online exchange companies for seeking details of the e-wallets. Replies from the authorities concerned is awaited.”
Sub-inspector Angat Nemane said, “The fraudsters contacted the techie on an internet messaging application and added his phone number to a group where members discussed about different crypto currencies and profits derived from them.”
He added, “The techie contacted the fraudsters on the app and expressed interest in investing in cryptocurrencies. He initially invested smaller amounts and received good returns. The techie was given access to an account on a website where he could see details regarding investments made in crypto currencies and the returns received so far.”
After gaining the techie’s trust, the suspects asked him to invest more money for getting better returns. “The techie believed that they were genuine traders in crypto currency and decided to invest his money. He used his savings of around Rs 50 lakh and took another 50 lakh as personal loan from banks and friends,” Nemane said.
A total of Rs 1.12 crore was invseted by the techie in crypto currencies and the same was transferred into his e-wallet on the website.
“One fine day the techie found that the suspects had disabled his account and stopped communicating with him. He made numerous attempts to reach out to them on a messenger app, but failed to connect. The fraudsters later contacted him and sent emails promising to repay the invested money with interest. However, they demanded that the techie should pay another Rs 5 lakh. This is when the techie realised that he has been duped,” Nemane said.
The techie initially filed a complaint application following which a preliminary inquiry was conducted. The techie was not available for comments when TOI tried to reach out to him over phone.
The complainant started investing the money from September 20, 2021. Talking about the progress of the investigation, senior inspector of cybercrime police Minal Patil said, “We have sought details of the phone numbers that were used to send messages through an internet-based messenger app. We have also written to the online exchange companies for seeking details of the e-wallets. Replies from the authorities concerned is awaited.”
Sub-inspector Angat Nemane said, “The fraudsters contacted the techie on an internet messaging application and added his phone number to a group where members discussed about different crypto currencies and profits derived from them.”
He added, “The techie contacted the fraudsters on the app and expressed interest in investing in cryptocurrencies. He initially invested smaller amounts and received good returns. The techie was given access to an account on a website where he could see details regarding investments made in crypto currencies and the returns received so far.”
After gaining the techie’s trust, the suspects asked him to invest more money for getting better returns. “The techie believed that they were genuine traders in crypto currency and decided to invest his money. He used his savings of around Rs 50 lakh and took another 50 lakh as personal loan from banks and friends,” Nemane said.
A total of Rs 1.12 crore was invseted by the techie in crypto currencies and the same was transferred into his e-wallet on the website.
“One fine day the techie found that the suspects had disabled his account and stopped communicating with him. He made numerous attempts to reach out to them on a messenger app, but failed to connect. The fraudsters later contacted him and sent emails promising to repay the invested money with interest. However, they demanded that the techie should pay another Rs 5 lakh. This is when the techie realised that he has been duped,” Nemane said.
The techie initially filed a complaint application following which a preliminary inquiry was conducted. The techie was not available for comments when TOI tried to reach out to him over phone.
