Youth Duped of Lakhs in Facebook Trading Scam

A young man from the Campierganj area recently became a victim of an extensive cyber fraud scheme, losing ₹18 lakh. The scam originated from a social media interaction on Facebook, where he accepted a friend request from a profile named “Nidhi Mishra.” The perpetrator lured him into a deceptive online trading operation that promised lucrative returns.

Youth Duped of Lakhs in Facebook Trading Scam

Anand Prakash Yadav, the victim from Sahavankhor village, reported the incident to the cyber police. His ordeal began with a friend request that led to conversations shifting from Facebook to WhatsApp. The scammer offered to help him achieve substantial profits through online trading, presenting a seemingly legitimate trading link titled “Hizcoin Shop.”

The Scam Process

• The initial investment request was ₹50,000.
• Victim was shown a fictitious profit of ₹57 lakh on the trading platform.
• To access his profits, Yadav was asked to pay a commission of ₹18 lakh.

In a series of transactions, Yadav transferred funds through various methods including RTGS and UPI. The funds were directed to several bank accounts across numerous banks including Bank of Baroda, UCO Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, and State Bank of India.

Investigation and Ongoing Efforts

After completing the payments, Yadav found himself unable to contact the fraudsters, leading to the realization that he had been duped. A case has been filed at the cyber police station, where authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the digital transactions and the fraudulent banking accounts linked to the scam.

Public Advisory

Cyber experts have issued warnings regarding unsolicited investment offers on social media platforms. They emphasize the need for users to verify the legitimacy of trading platforms before making any investments. The police have also advised against paying any commissions or processing fees for profit withdrawals and to remain vigilant about suspicious links.

To enhance fund recovery prospects, victims are encouraged to report such incidents promptly via the cyber helpline at 1930.

The investigation is ongoing to ascertain whether the fraudulent operations are conducted domestically or internationally. Authorities are making efforts to freeze the beneficiaries’ accounts and potentially recover the misappropriated funds.