A 66-year-old retired engineer from a private company in Pune fell victim to an online share-trading scam, losing nearly Rs 63 lakh between November 2025 and January 2026. The senior citizen’s son lodged a complaint with the Pune cyber police on Thursday, leading to the registration of a case.
How the Fraud Unfolded
According to an officer from the Pune cyber police, the complainant’s father was added to a group of investors on a mobile messaging app in November 2025. The fraudsters promised high returns on stock market investments and instructed him to download a specific app for share trading.
Over three months, the elderly man transferred amounts as directed, believing he was making genuine investments. The app displayed apparent profits, which encouraged him to continue. However, whenever he attempted to withdraw his money, the scammers made excuses and avoided processing the request.
Realization and Complaint
After transferring a total of Rs 62.7 lakh, the retired engineer realized he had been duped and stopped responding to the fraudsters. He then informed his son, and together they filed an online complaint with the authorities.
“We registered the case after preliminary investigations. Our investigations are ongoing,” the officer stated.
Precautionary Measures
This incident highlights the growing threat of online investment scams targeting senior citizens. Authorities urge the public to verify the authenticity of investment platforms and avoid sharing personal financial details with unknown individuals.
