Pune Citizens Defrauded of Rs 1.26 Crore in Cybercrime Scams
Pune, 7th December 2024: Cybercriminals have defrauded Pune citizens of Rs 1.26 crore by exploiting fears of police and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) action or by luring them with work-from-home opportunities.
In one case, a woman from Kothrud was cheated out of Rs 4.32 lakh under the guise of an online work-from-home opportunity. Initially, the scammers refunded her money to build trust, prompting her to invest more. Upon realizing she had been defrauded, the woman filed a complaint with Kothrud Police Station.
Similarly, a youth from Wagholi was extorted for Rs 41.40 lakh after being threatened with arrest. The fraudsters coerced him into transferring money by falsely claiming that police action would be taken against him. A complaint was registered at Wagholi Police Station regarding the incident.
In another case, a youth from the same area was cheated out of Rs 33.78 lakh on the pretext of investing in foreign exchange trading. He also lodged a complaint at Wagholi Police Station.
In yet another incident, a man from Hadapsar was duped of Rs 49.55 lakh between December 2023 and February 2024. The scammers promised high returns on stock market investments and initially refunded the complainant to gain his confidence. Encouraged by the refund, he transferred more money to the fraudsters’ account but received no further returns. Realizing he had been deceived, he filed a complaint with the police.
Authorities are investigating these cases as cyber fraud continues to escalate, targeting unsuspecting individuals with elaborate schemes.
