A businessman from Dombivli in Thane district lost Rs 77.10 lakh after being lured into a WhatsApp-based share trading scheme. The accused promised high returns but stopped responding after the investment
Representational image. File pic
A businessman from Dombivli area in Thane district of Maharashtra lost Rs 77.10 lakh in a WhatsApp-based share trading scheme, a police official said on Sunday.
As reported by news agency PTI, between November 17, 2025, and January 8, victim Prashant Prabhu (43) was added to a WhatsApp group by the accused. The victim, after being manipulated by the accused, invested the amount. As per the Manpada police station, he was promised high returns in share trading.
The official further said, "The complainant neither received the promised profits nor a refund of the Rs 77.10 lakh he invested. The accused stopped responding thereafter, following which he approached police. An FIR was registered under the Information Technology Act, and efforts are on to trace the money trail and nab the accused, as per PTI.
Goregaon businessman loses Rs 9.71 lakh after opening an APK file
In a different scenario, a 53-year-old businessman from Mumbai's Goregaon lost Rs 9.71 lakh after falling victim to a cyber fraud linked to a fake e-challan message received on WhatsApp, police said on January 20.
According to the police complaint, the fraud came to light when the businessman checked his bank statement and noticed three unauthorised IMPS debit transactions totalling Rs 971,380. The debits included amounts of Rs 500, Rs 4.80 lakh and Rs 4.90 lakh, all carried out without his knowledge or consent.
The victim said that he did not receive any SMS or email alerts for the transactions. When he approached his bank, officials confirmed that most of the stolen money had been transferred to accounts held with Union Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank. The bank assured him that an internal inquiry would be conducted.
Malicious APK file found on phone
Further investigation revealed that a malicious APK file named “RTO Challan.apk” had been installed on the businessman’s mobile phone without his awareness. A security scan using a mobile safety application detected the file, which was later found to have been received via WhatsApp a few days earlier.
Cyber experts believe the APK gave fraudsters remote access to the victim’s phone, allowing them to operate banking applications and transfer funds electronically.
(With inputs from PTI)
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