In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, authorities have uncovered an organised scam run through social media, highlighting the rising risks of fake investment schemes targeting unsuspecting users.
A large cyber fraud racket operating via Instagram has been exposed, involving a ‘double money’ investment scam that cheated victims of over ₹45 lakh. The main accused, Navdeep Kaur alias Nisha Rani, has been arrested, while her husband Ranjit Singh and associate Ramandeep Singh are still absconding.
In one case, a victim, Kulwinder Kaur, lost around ₹14.92 lakh after making multiple transactions over time. In another case, victims including Malkit Kaur and Rajni Verma collectively lost more than ₹27 lakh through similar scams conducted on Instagram. Investigators found a consistent pattern across complaints, which helped them understand how the network operated.
The investigation moved forward using technical evidence and digital trails gathered from multiple complaints. By analysing data and tracking online activity, authorities identified the location and network of the accused, leading to the arrest of the main suspect. She was presented before a court and sent to 2-day custody for further questioning. Officials expect more details to emerge during interrogation.
Further findings revealed that the accused is a repeat offender, with several cases already registered against her in different districts. This suggests that the group had been active for a long time and kept changing its methods to target new victims.
Experts say such scams depend more on social engineering than technical hacking. Criminals exploit trust, greed, and human psychology to trap victims.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh explains, “Cyber criminals first gain the victim’s confidence by offering small returns, and then psychologically manipulate them into making larger investments. It is a carefully crafted trap that becomes difficult for common people to escape.”
Authorities have advised people to stay alert and avoid trusting investment offers shared on social media. Any scheme promising very high returns in a short time should be treated with caution.
The case highlights the misuse of digital platforms to target common citizens and underlines the need for awareness as the strongest defence against such scams.
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