The cybercrime branch of police has apprehended a 29-year-old man for allegedly scamming a Noida resident out of ₹32.4 lakh with false promises of lucrative investment returns. Authorities have recovered ₹24 lakh of the lost amount and returned it to the victim.
According to victim Jyotimayee Barik, a Sector 15 resident in Noida, she discovered a Telegram message in September 2023 promoting an online platform for earning substantial profits. Barik joined the group and registered on the fraudulent website shared by the scammers.
“Initially, after joining, she withdrew ₹885 without making any investment. Following this, she monitored the group for about two weeks, verifying its legitimacy by reaching out to others who provided screenshots of their earnings,” an investigator on the case explained.
“Convinced by her findings, Barik began investing significant amounts to secure larger profits. Over several transactions, she invested approximately ₹32.4 lakh. When she attempted to withdraw her funds, the fraudsters instructed her to invest additional money, leading her to realize she had been deceived,” the investigator, who preferred to remain anonymous, added.
Through electronic surveillance and extensive investigation, the cyber police successfully arrested the suspect. The individual has been identified as Adab Alam, 29, from Moradabad.
During questioning, Alam disclosed that he collaborated with a man named Ajay from Delhi and an unidentified accomplice to defraud individuals under the guise of investment opportunities, according to Preeti Yadav, Additional Commissioner of Police for the cybercrime branch. She noted that they have managed to recover ₹24 lakh for the victim and are working to retrieve the remaining funds.
Authorities revealed that 21 bank accounts linked to the suspects have been flagged by various state police departments across India, including those from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka, through the National Cyber Crime Report Portal (NCRP). Investigations are ongoing to scrutinize these accounts and apprehend Alam’s associates.
