A Faridabad businessman lost ₹12.16 lakh after fraudsters used Facebook videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the home minister, the finance minister and industrialist Mukesh Ambani to lure him into a fake share-market investment scheme, according to a police complaint reported by Navbharat Times. Cyber police in Ballabhgarh have registered a case and begun investigating the bank accounts, phone numbers, email addresses and website linked to the alleged fraud.
The complainant, a resident of Jain Colony in Ballabhgarh, told police that he was watching Facebook reels when he came across videos promoting investment and high returns. The videos contained a link, which he opened before transferring ₹18,996.50 from his bank credit card on October 26.
The following day, the complainant received calls from two mobile numbers. One caller identified himself as Naim Sheikh and allegedly told him that he was purchasing shares on the complainant’s behalf. The caller also said that a larger investment would generate higher returns, according to the complaint.
The businessman then transferred ₹50,028.54 three times using his credit card. The three transfers totalled ₹1,95,231.81. The alleged fraudsters subsequently sent links from two email addresses. When the complainant logged in using the password provided to him, the links opened a website named bxbmarkets.com.
The website displayed profits in the complainant’s name, creating the impression that his investment was increasing. On October 28, the alleged fraudsters sent him a bank account under the name RIVA Traders and asked him to deposit ₹10 lakh. The complainant transferred the amount from his bank account.
After the transfer, the accused allegedly demanded another ₹26 lakh. When the complainant refused to pay, they threatened that his entire deposited amount would be lost. He then realised that he had been defrauded and contacted the national cybercrime helpline, 1930.
The reported transfers described in the complaint include ₹18,996.50, three credit-card payments of ₹50,028.54, ₹50,028.54 and ₹95,174.73, and a bank transfer of ₹10 lakh. Together, these transactions amount to ₹12,16,227.81, or approximately ₹12.16 lakh.
Cyber police in Ballabhgarh have registered the case and are examining the accounts that received the money, the mobile numbers used to contact the complainant, the email addresses and the investment website. The investigation will determine the identities of the people involved and trace the movement of the funds.
