Cyber scammers dupe Pimpri-Chinchwad-based software engineer of Rs 48 lakh in online share trading fraud, FIR lodged

The police have booked one fraudster identifying herself as ‘Aanya Smith’ and others, including holders of the fraudulent bank accounts in which the complainant’s money was transferred, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 318(4), 316(2), and 2(34), and sections of the Information Technology Act.

They said the cyber fraudsters contacted the complainant over WhatsApp last year, assuring him huge returns on investment in the share trading business.

As per a press release issued by the police on Thursday, the accused, Aanya Smith, added the complainant to a WhatsApp group named ‘Motilal Oswal Wealth Management D555’. He was further asked to download the fraudulent app ‘MOIA’ on his cell phone and transfer money into certain bank accounts as an investment in share trading.

The police said that after the complainant transferred money, the fraudsters sent him ‘screenshots’ showing his profits, on the WhatsApp group. Also, the MOIA App was showing him huge gains against his investments.

Between August 2024 and October 2024, the complainant transferred Rs 48,38,824 into multiple bank accounts as per instructions of the fraudsters. The MOIA App in his cell phone was showing him a profit of Rs 1,31,43,356.

But when he tried to withdraw this money, he learnt that the MOIA was a fraudulent application showing him fake profits. The victim, thereafter, filed a complaint with the Pimpri Chinchwad police.