The sufferer was requested to obtain a faux buying and selling app that confirmed dummy earnings. Illustration pic/istock
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A 49-year-old Bhandup-based enterprise marketing consultant was allegedly cheated of Rs 7.10 lakh after being lured right into a fraudulent WhatsApp buying and selling scheme referred to as the ‘Aishwarya Plan’, which promised over 100 per cent returns with zero brokerage.
The sufferer, an lively on-line dealer, was first contacted on October 28 by a girl who claimed to symbolize a reputed brokerage. He was added to a WhatsApp group and requested to obtain a faux buying and selling app that confirmed dummy earnings to construct his confidence.
Between November 7 and November 25, he was repeatedly requested to “recharge” his buying and selling account by transferring cash to a number of third-party financial institution accounts for share buying and selling and a faux IPO allotment.
In complete, he transferred Rs 7.10 lakh to no less than 5 totally different accounts underneath numerous agency names. To strengthen credibility, the fraudsters initially allowed him to withdraw Rs 15,920. Nevertheless, his request for a bigger withdrawal was blocked, citing a low in-app “credit score rating”.
The FIR names 9 accused, recognized by means of totally different cell numbers and financial institution accounts. The sufferer later filed a criticism with the Kanjurmarg police and approached the 1930 cyber helpline.
Pink flags for buyers
>> Assured excessive returns
>> Buying and selling by means of WhatsApp teams
>> Requests to recharge funds
>> A number of third-party financial institution accounts
>> Simple earnings proven, huge withdrawals blocked
>> Stress to spend money on unique IPOs
Test SEBI’s pointers
>> The ‘Aishwarya Plan’ shouldn’t be SEBI-registered.
>> Police say the identify was solely used to make the scheme seem premium.
>> SEBI warns in opposition to WhatsApp ideas, assured returns, or unregistered apps.
>> Confirm brokers solely by means of SEBI’s official web site.
The place to complain
Nationwide Cyber Crime
Helpline: 1930
Web site: cybercrime.gov.in
Oct 28
Day sufferer first got here involved with scamsters
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