Ahmedabad: In two different cybercrime incidents, two senior citizens were cheated of Rs 1.16 crore. Complaints of cheating and criminal breach of trust were registered on Friday night in this connection.A 66-year-old former employee of a prominent oil company was implicated in a cheating case involving cryptocurrency investments. The individual, who retired in 2020, was approached via social media by a person claiming to be a successful bitcoin investor. “I was promised significant profits,” the former employee stated, describing how they were lured into downloading a trading app and making several transactions.The accused, who initially contacted the victim through Facebook, later moved the conversation to WhatsApp, where they shared screenshots of alleged profits. “I was convinced by the screenshots and the promise of high returns,” the victim admitted. The scammer, using the alias ‘Sanvi Sharma’, instructed the victim to download an app and register with their personal details.The victim was then introduced to another individual, ‘Peter’, who guided them through further transactions. “I was told to invest more for better returns,” the victim stated. However, after transferring about Rs 55 lakh, the victim realised that he was being duped as he could no longer access the funds. In another complaint, a 62-year-old retired employee fell victim to an online scam. The individual, who retired from a private company in 2024, was approached via WhatsApp by someone claiming to be a high-ranking official from a well-known investment firm. The scammer promised exclusive benefits, including “15 days of free trial to VIP investment strategies” and “one-on-one guidance from expert analysts”.The victim was persuaded to click on a link and download an application, which was purportedly from the investment firm. “I was told that I would receive priority alerts for IPO subscriptions and high accuracy options strategies,” the victim recounted. However, after following the instructions, the victim realised that the promises were false, and a substantial amount of money was withdrawn from their bank account. In the case, the 62-year-old claimed he lost Rs 60.67 lakh to the online cheaters.
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