Pune, 6th February 2026: Cyber criminals have cheated three people from different parts of city of more than ₹1.19 crore by promising big returns in the stock market through WhatsApp groups.
The victims, residents of Lohgaon, Kondhwa–Bibwewadi and Kesnand, were trapped using fake investment links and apps. Separate cases have been registered at the Cyber Police Station, Market Yard Police Station and Wagholi Police Station.
According to the police, such frauds are increasing rapidly, with scammers using WhatsApp groups to gain the trust of citizens. Victims are shown false profits on fake trading platforms and are convinced to transfer large sums of money, only to realise later that the apps and advisers were fake.
In the first case, a 59-year-old man from the Lohgaon–Dhanori area was contacted on his mobile phone and added to a WhatsApp group. He was asked to download an app and invest in stock trading.
Believing the promises of high returns, he transferred ₹50 lakh from his bank account. When no returns were received, he realised he had been cheated. “The app showed profits initially, but the money never came back,” police said. A case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station.
In the second incident, a 47-year-old man from the Vastu Nagar area on Kondhwa–Bibwewadi Road was similarly targeted. The fraudsters convinced him to invest by assuring attractive profits and cheated him of ₹42.66 lakh. The case has been registered at the Market Yard Police Station.
In the third case, a 34-year-old man from the Kesnand area was added to a WhatsApp group offering stock market investment opportunities. He was cheated of ₹26.55 lakh.
Police have registered a case at Wagholi Police Station against the group admin and the bank account holders involved. “We are examining bank accounts, mobile numbers and technical details of the apps used in the fraud,” police said, adding that efforts are on to trace the cyber criminals.
