Kolkata Senior Citizen Loses Rs 16 Lakh in Elaborate Social Media Trading Scam
Police in Kolkata reported a distressing case of cyber fraud on Saturday. A senior citizen allegedly lost nearly Rs 16 lakh to cunning fraudsters. These criminals posed as representatives of well-known share trading platforms. They first lured the victim through clever social media advertisements.
How the Scam Unfolded
The victim, a resident of the Belghoria Expressway area in North 24 Parganas, filed a formal complaint at Airport Police Station on Friday. According to his statement, the incident began on November 20, 2025. While casually scrolling through Facebook, the senior citizen clicked on a post related to trading opportunities.
Shortly after this click, he found himself added to a WhatsApp group. Members of this group confidently introduced themselves as professional investment advisors. They claimed direct links to a reputable stock trading platform.
Gaining Trust Through Fabrication
The fraudsters employed sophisticated tactics to build credibility. A senior police officer explained their methods. "The accused gained the victim's confidence by sharing fabricated documents," the officer stated. They presented fake trading dashboards and even supplied alleged SEBI registration details. All these materials appeared genuine and convincing.
Persuasion followed. The group members convinced the senior citizen to install a specific trading application. They falsely projected this app as the official platform of the trading company. Trusting their assurances, the victim complied.
The Financial Drain Begins
Once trust was established, the financial requests started. Police records show the victim initially transferred Rs 12.2 lakh. This amount moved in four separate instalments. The money went to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
The scheme then evolved. The victim was added to another WhatsApp group. This new group claimed to represent a different stock holding company. Here, he transferred an additional Rs 3.8 lakh from a private bank account. The total loss climbed to nearly Rs 16 lakh.
The Moment of Realization
The fraud finally came to light when the victim attempted to withdraw his alleged profits. He found his access completely blocked on the trading application. "The victim later realised that the apps, documents and even the SEBI credentials were forged," the investigating officer confirmed.
In a cruel twist, the fraudsters did not stop. Even after blocking access, they demanded more money. They asked for service charges and payment for an IPO the victim never applied for. This added pressure revealed the true nature of the scam.
This case highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud targeting vulnerable individuals. It underscores the importance of verifying financial platforms through official channels. Police continue their investigation into this elaborate trading scam.
