A 33-year-old woman from Dhokali in Maharashtra lost a staggering Rs 27 lakh to an investment scam ad she clicked on Facebook. The woman was lured into what appears to be a sophisticated Bitcoin investment scam on Facebook.
The trap began with a seemingly innocuous digital ad promising high returns for minimal investment.
Browsing Facebook one day, the victim stumbled upon an ad claiming guaranteed profits for anyone investing at least $500 (Rs 42,000 approximately) in Bitcoin.The ad claimed that anyone investing at least $500 in bitcoins would receive $4,800 in return.
Intrigued by the promise of earning quick money, she contacted the number given in the ad. The caller claimed to be a Belgian citizen.
Spinning dangerous tales
Spinning a convincing tale, the scammer assured the victim of significant returns and guided her through the alleged investment process. She was asked to download a mobile app and create a profile for herself. To make it look realistic, the accused sent her a screenshot that they have added her to their list. First, she invested Rs 50,000 in Bitcoin, receiving a confirmation email for a smaller value – a deliberate discrepancy to raise suspicion.
To further ensnare her, the scammer presented a website showing unrealized profits from her “investment.” Excited by the prospect of easy money, the victim complied with further demands, paying for “upgrades,” “fees,” and “taxes” – none of which were legitimate.
They gave her a website that showed that she had so far earned a profit of $4,586, which was over Rs 3 lakh with her total investment made until now. “She was given a link to withdraw money but was unable to withdraw the money that was seen on the website,” said a police officer. She realized that she had been duped when she was unable to withdraw any amount.
The trap began with a seemingly innocuous digital ad promising high returns for minimal investment.
Browsing Facebook one day, the victim stumbled upon an ad claiming guaranteed profits for anyone investing at least $500 (Rs 42,000 approximately) in Bitcoin.The ad claimed that anyone investing at least $500 in bitcoins would receive $4,800 in return.
Intrigued by the promise of earning quick money, she contacted the number given in the ad. The caller claimed to be a Belgian citizen.
Spinning dangerous tales
Spinning a convincing tale, the scammer assured the victim of significant returns and guided her through the alleged investment process. She was asked to download a mobile app and create a profile for herself. To make it look realistic, the accused sent her a screenshot that they have added her to their list. First, she invested Rs 50,000 in Bitcoin, receiving a confirmation email for a smaller value – a deliberate discrepancy to raise suspicion.
To further ensnare her, the scammer presented a website showing unrealized profits from her “investment.” Excited by the prospect of easy money, the victim complied with further demands, paying for “upgrades,” “fees,” and “taxes” – none of which were legitimate.
They gave her a website that showed that she had so far earned a profit of $4,586, which was over Rs 3 lakh with her total investment made until now. “She was given a link to withdraw money but was unable to withdraw the money that was seen on the website,” said a police officer. She realized that she had been duped when she was unable to withdraw any amount.
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