1. ₹25-Crore Investment Scam Uncovered in Kochi

• Date: Between March 15, 2023 and August 29, 2025
  Location: Elamkulam, Kochi, Kerala
  Details: A 49-year-old owner of a pharmaceutical company was defrauded of ₹25 crore via a fake investment/trading app (“Capitalix”) and an associated web/Telegram-based scheme.  
  The victim was promised very high returns (even doubling of investment) and persuaded to invest in instalments. Investigations later showed multiple other victims in Kerala who lost amounts varying from about ₹40 lakh to ₹1.5 crore, though many had not filed official complaints.
• Modus Operandi:
  
  Contact via social media / Telegram by someone posing as a financial/trading agent (“Daniel” in this case) whom the victim knew only by phone.
  Use of a fake trading platform/website + app (Capitalix) to show fictitious profits, thereby gaining the investor’s trust
  Communication & persuasion over Telegram / chats to invest more and more. Pulling funds in instalments.
  When the investor tries to withdraw, the fraudsters make excuses, block contact, or simply don’t return the money.
• Preventive Measures:
   
  Always verify credentials of financial/trading agents (e.g., are they registered, licensed).
  Avoid investing via unknown apps/websites. Check reviews, regulatory registration.
  Be skeptical of promises of “high returns” / doubling money quickly—if it sounds too good, it probably is.
  Maintain records of all communication: chats, calls, transaction receipts. They help with reporting.
  Before investing huge sums, test with small amounts to check withdrawal functionality.
  Report suspicious investment solicitations to cybercrime cells or authorities early.

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2. ₹1.7 Crore Duped in Noida Investment Scam

• Date: The fraud occurred around September 9-15, 2025
• Location: Noida (Sector 62), Uttar Pradesh / case dealt with by Noida and Ghaziabad police.
• Details: An 80-year-old retired government official was defrauded of about ₹1.7 crore via a “digital arrest” scam. Scammers impersonated CBI or police officers claiming the victim was involved in money laundering or linked to an illegal transaction (specifically referencing Naresh Goyal case). They used video calls, fake court hearings, false documents, etc.  Under threat, they coerced him to transfer life-savings to bank accounts supposedly for verification. Victim was told to stay silent. Later, three men from Bihar were arrested in Ghaziabad in connection to this case.
• Modus Operandi:
  • Impersonation of law enforcement (CBI, police) with fake authority claims.
  • Use of video/audio calls, even staging fake court proceedings / making deceptive documentation to intimidate the victim.
  • Coercion: threat of legal action / arrest, prompting victim to transfer funds under fear.
  • Use of mule accounts (accounts used by intermediaries) to collect the funds.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Do not trust any caller claiming to be police/CBI over phone/video asking for money. Always verify through official channels.
  • Do not share bank account details, OTPs, or authorize transfers under duress or threat.
  • Be wary of unsolicited calls alleging legal issues, money laundering, etc.
  • Consult someone you trust (lawyer/family) before taking action.
  • Report immediately to cybercrime cell if such calls received.
  • Banks should have stronger validation checks before allowing large transfers based on pressure.

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3. Multi-State Cyber Fraud Crackdown in Hyderabad

• Date: September 16, 2025
• Location:Hyderabad, Telangana
• Details: In a major coordinated operation, Telangana Cyber Crime Police and central agencies busted a sprawling cyber fraud network operating across India. Authorities arrested 61 suspects spanning 14 states, making it one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years. The racket was responsible for duping victims nationwide through high-profile scams such as trading frauds, fake insurance settlements, and digital arrest scams. Fake apps, call centers, and social media platforms were used to target unsuspecting citizens, especially senior citizens and professionals. The arrests followed months of digital surveillance, analysis of financial trails, and victim complaints. Police revealed that the syndicate laundered crores of rupees through mule bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. Several laptops, mobile devices, and documents were seized. Officials said the crackdown is part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle cybercrime networks that are increasingly sophisticated, well-coordinated, and cross-border in nature.
• Modus Operandi:
  • Fraudsters lured victims with fake trading apps promising high returns, duped policyholders with false insurance claim settlements, and intimidated citizens through digital arrest scams, where callers posed as police/CBI officers.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Use only verified government or bank apps for investments and insurance. Avoid acting on unsolicited offers received on WhatsApp, Telegram, or email. Stay alert to threatening calls demanding money and report them immediately to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or local police.

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4. Cyber Fraud Racket Busted in Muzaffarnagar

• Date: September 11, 2025
• Location: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
• Details: In a major breakthrough, Muzaffarnagar police busted a cyber fraud racket in which two men extorted ₹33 lakh from a retired engineer by impersonating officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The fraudsters contacted the victim, alleging his bank account was linked to illegal money laundering activities. To create fear, they staged fake “official” calls, even sending fabricated notices and directing him to remain isolated—a tactic commonly known as digital arrest. Over several days, the victim was coerced into transferring money in multiple installments for so-called “verification” and “clearance of charges.” The scam came to light when the victim finally confided in family members, who approached the police. Swift investigation led to the arrest of the suspects, and part of the siphoned funds was frozen in mule accounts. Police said the case highlights how fraudsters exploit fear of legal consequences to trap educated and retired individuals.
• Modus Operandi:
  • The accused impersonated central agencies, staged threatening calls, and forced the victim into a digital arrest scenario, making him believe he would be jailed unless he transferred funds.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Never trust unsolicited calls claiming to be from ED, CBI, or police. Always verify identities through official channels, avoid transferring money under threat, and immediately report incidents to the 1930 cyber helpline or local police.

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5. ₹28 Crore Lost to Cybercrime in Mysuru

• Date: September 15, 2025
• Location: : Mysuru, Karnataka
• Details: Mysuru police revealed that citizens in the city and surrounding districts collectively lost ₹28 crore to cybercrime in 128 cases reported in 2025 alone. The majority of the complaints were linked to fraudulent stock market trading schemes, phishing-based investment offers, and digital arrest scams. Victims ranged from young professionals lured by quick-profit trading platforms to elderly citizens coerced by callers impersonating law enforcement officers. Officials said that fraudsters exploited both greed and fear—either offering unrealistic profits in online trading or threatening arrest in fabricated legal cases. The police highlighted that once money was transferred, it was routed quickly through multiple mule accounts and cryptocurrency exchanges, complicating recovery. Despite this, investigators managed to freeze several accounts, and in some cases, partial refunds were initiated. The report has raised alarm, pushing for greater public awareness and stricter monitoring of financial transactions.
• Modus Operandi:
  • Scammers posed as financial advisors or enforcement officers, using fake trading platforms, phishing links, and intimidating calls to trick victims into parting with their savings.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Citizens are urged to attend cyber awareness programs, verify financial advisors and platforms with official regulators, and immediately report fraud to the 1930 cyber helpline. Acting swiftly increases the chances of recovering funds.

📞 Cybercrime Helpline: Dial 1930 (Available 24/7)
🌐 Report Online: www.cybercrime.gov.in
🏦 Bank Fraud: Contact your bank’s customer care and RBI Ombudsman at www.rbi.org.in
📩 Fake Trading/Investment Scams: Report to SEBI via www.scores.gov.in