Pune, 13 December 2025: Pune witnessed a sharp surge in cybercrime as fraudsters carried out multiple online scams across the city, leading to the registration of 11 cybercrime cases in a single day.
According to police data, victims collectively lost ₹2.16 crore through various digital frauds. The incidents were reported from different police station jurisdictions.
In several cases, cyber criminals posed as officials from courier companies, investment firms, or law enforcement agencies. A senior citizen from the Tadiwala Road area was allegedly threatened with a “money-laundering investigation” and was coerced into transferring ₹63.40 lakh during a fake inquiry.
In another major case from Warje, a 58-year-old man lost over ₹54 lakh after being convinced to install a fraudulent share-trading application promising high returns.
Multiple victims were targeted through so-called “prepaid task” scams circulated via Telegram and other platforms. Fraudsters lured people with small initial gains and gradually pushed them to deposit larger amounts.
Residents from Khadak, Aundh, Baner, Chatushrungi, and Chandan Nagar collectively lost lakhs of rupees through such task-based frauds. One woman was tricked into paying money for hotel reviews and online likes before realising she had been cheated.
Share trading scams emerged as another common pattern. Victims from Uttam Nagar, Nanded City, and Wanowrie were persuaded to invest repeatedly with promises of guaranteed profits, eventually losing amounts ranging from ₹3 lakh to over ₹5 lakh.
In a disturbing Wanowrie case, a senior woman lost ₹9.78 lakh directly from her debit card, even though she claimed she had not shared any OTP or personal banking details.
Police officials have urged citizens to remain alert and avoid clicking unknown links, downloading unverified apps, or transferring money based on online assurances. Authorities reiterated that no government agency or courier service conducts financial investigations over phone calls and advised people to report suspicious activity immediately to cyber police.