Hyderabad: How cyberfraudster posing as woman on FB cheated techie of ₹2.36 Cr

Hyderabad: A cyberfraudster posing as a woman on Facebook cheated a city-based techie of ₹2.36 crore after luring him to pump money into fake online trading investments.

Friend request leads to fraud

According to police, the victim, a software professional residing in Kondapur, received a friend request in August last year from a woman identifying herself as “Kora.”

She claimed to be from Singapore and was currently working in Mumbai. Over time, their interaction grew through regular chats, and they eventually exchanged phone numbers.

Trust built through social media group

To gain his confidence, the woman added him to a Facebook group, claiming that several members were earning high profits through investments on an online platform called “Facebook Store.” She repeatedly highlighted success stories and persuaded him to try investing.

APK file used to install fake app

When the victim showed interest, the fraudster initially shared a link to the platform. As it did not open, she sent an APK file instead. After downloading it, a Facebook-like application appeared on his phone, designed to mimic a genuine trading platform.

‘Guidance’ from foreign contact

The victim was then introduced to another person named “Bella,” who was allegedly based in Germany. Acting on their instructions, he began investing money, believing he was trading products and earning profits through the app.

₹2.36 crore transferred via Crypto

Between September 1 and December 12, the victim transferred a total of ₹2.36 crore through cryptocurrency wallets. The app displayed increasing profits, creating an illusion of successful investments.

No withdrawal option raises suspicion

Despite showing gains, the platform did not allow any withdrawals. The victim repeatedly tried to retrieve his money over the following months, but neither the principal amount nor the profits were returned.

Case registered, probe on

Realising he had been cheated, the victim approached the Cyberabad Cybercrime Police. A case was registered on Saturday, and an investigation has been launched to trace the fraudsters.

Police issue advisory

Police officials have urged the public to remain cautious while interacting with unknown persons on social media and to avoid downloading APK files or investing in unverified platforms, especially those promising unusually high returns.