Hyderabad: Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar on Sunday warned residents to stay alert against a surge in online trading frauds targeting Hyderabad citizens. The Cyber Crime Police Station has received several complaints about fake investment schemes circulating on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
How the scams operate
According to the advisory, cybercriminals create fake trading websites, mobile apps, and dashboards that display false profits to lure victims. Once victims invest large sums, the fraudsters block withdrawals with excuses such as unpaid taxes, verification checks, or conversion fees. In some cases, they threaten victims with fake legal notices before disappearing.
Victim loses ₹6.32 lakh in fake stock scheme
In one case, a 57-year-old man from Himayathnagar lost ₹6.32 lakh to a fraudulent platform named NFM Capital Markets. The fraud began when a woman, identified as Amrutha Reddy, contacted him through Facebook and WhatsApp, offering investments in “U.S. Gold Stocks.”
The victim was deceived by a manipulated trading dashboard showing a balance of USD 38,694.94. Convinced of his “profit,” he transferred money via Google Pay and SBI YONO. Later, the scammers demanded another ₹8 lakh for “taxes” and “withdrawal charges.” He then reported the case through the 1930 Cyber Helpline, leading to partial recovery of funds.
₹43 lakh fraud under probe
In another incident, a 63-year-old investor lost over ₹43 lakh after receiving a WhatsApp message from a group named AXIS Security. Believing it to be linked to Axis Bank, he invested between July 12 and early August 2025 in what was presented as QIP-based trading with IPO benefits.
The fraudsters showed fake profits and even issued bogus share allotments under the pretext of a “non-interest loan.” They later demanded repayment and threatened to freeze his account. Following his complaint, police registered a case (Cr. No. 1409/2025) under Sections 66-C and 66-D of the IT Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police issue advisory
Police have begun investigations into both cases. Commissioner Sajjanar urged citizens to stay cautious about unsolicited investment messages on social media. He advised residents to avoid unverified trading platforms and to check authenticity through SEBI before investing.
He further appealed to victims to immediately report suspicious activity through the 1930 Helpline or the cybercrime.gov.in portal. “Awareness is the best protection against online financial frauds,” the Commissioner said.
