Thane doctor loses

In yet another cyber crime incident, a doctor from Thane fell victim to a fraud scheme, losing as much as ₹3.84 crore to three individuals from Karnataka who lured him with the promise of profitable returns through a municipal contract to supply medical equipment.
According to a police official from Naupada police station, the 39-year-old doctor invested substantial funds in various items related to the contract from December 1, 2020, until March 27 of this year. After months of seeing no returns or profit, he approached the police for assistance, news agency PTI reported.
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Cops have registered a case of cheating; however, no arrests have been made yet, the official stated, noting that the investigation is ongoing. “The man approached police after he did not get profits or any return on investment. We have registered a case of cheating but have not arrested anyone,” the police official said, as quoted by the agency.
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In a similar incident recently, a 50-year-old resident of Bengaluru, Kumar Utlasar, was apprehended by the cyber crime cell of the Goa Police for allegedly defrauding a resident from Valpoi of ₹2.3 crore in an investment scam. According to the police, Utlasar convinced the victim to invest in high-yield stocks through a series of persuasive WhatsApp messages, promising lucrative returns. When the promised profits failed to materialize, the victim filed a complaint, leading to Utlasar’s arrest.
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Bengaluru has recently been grappling with a rising wave of cyber fraud incidents, which include courier scams, fraudulent stock investment schemes, and other digital financial deceptions. Law enforcement officials have observed an increase in such cases as fraudsters exploit online platforms to target unsuspecting individuals, offering high returns on minimal investments. Both incidents serve as stark reminders of the need for caution when engaging in online investment opportunities, as authorities continue to combat an escalating trend of cyber-related crimes in the region.
(With inputs from PTI)