A major cyber fraud has been reported in Greater Noida where a retired manager was cheated of one crore twenty five lakh rupees over ten months. He was trapped by a woman who contacted him on WhatsApp and promised high investment returns. She first sent him a small profit to gain his confidence. When he later tried to withdraw his money, she stopped responding. Police have filed an FIR and begun a detailed investigation.
The victim, a retired manager from the Yamuna Authority and a resident of Greater Noida, received a WhatsApp message almost a year ago from a woman calling herself Divya Sharma. Over time, they began speaking regularly. She claimed she was a businesswoman and director of an investment company.
She said she invested daily through a firm named Golden Bridge Investment and earned good profits. She urged him to invest and assured him of “high and secure returns within a short time.”
On twenty eight January two thousand twenty five, after repeated persuasion, the victim invested forty thousand rupees. A few days later, the woman sent eight thousand rupees to his bank account as “profit.”
This early gain strengthened his trust. He believed the company was genuine and felt confident that a large investment would bring higher earnings. Fraudsters often use this method by giving small early profits to prepare the victim for bigger transfers.
Encouraged by the first payout, the victim kept sending money on the woman’s instructions. Between one February two thousand twenty five and eleven November two thousand twenty five, he transferred a total of one crore twenty four lakh forty four thousand rupees into different bank accounts.
During this time, she also told him to download an investment app on his phone. The app showed rising figures and daily increasing profits. In reality, the app was a fake dashboard created by the cyber gang to convince him that his money was growing.
After investing more than one crore rupees, the victim wanted to withdraw money for personal reasons. When he tried using the app, the woman told him:
“A thirty per cent tax must be paid first, only then your entire amount will be released.”
When he refused, she stopped responding. His calls, WhatsApp chats, and access to the app were all blocked. He then realised he had fallen into a major cyber scam.
The victim said the woman had added him to a WhatsApp group that seemed to have many active investors. Members often shared screenshots of high profits and investment advice. The group posted regular updates about “investment training,” daily earnings and messages that looked like testimonials. He later learnt that every person in the group was part of the cyber gang and placed there to create a false sense of trust.
The Cyber Unit has started tracking the money trail. According to the ADCP Cyber:
“We have registered an FIR. Transaction details are being collected from banks. Accounts where the money was transferred are being frozen. Several members of the syndicate have been identified and are under surveillance.”
Cyber experts say scams involving fake apps, manipulated dashboards, WhatsApp financial groups, small early profits and high withdrawal charges are rising fast across India. Fraudsters follow a clear psychological pattern where they build trust, create urgency and finally block communication once the victim stops sending money.
Authorities have advised people to stay alert and follow these steps:
Do not invest based on unknown WhatsApp or social media messages
Avoid joining unfamiliar investment groups
Download apps only from verified app stores and not from forwarded links
For any cyber fraud, call one nine three zero or report on cybercrime.gov.in
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