Thiruvananthapuram: A 65-year-old Ulloor native lost Rs 15 lakh in an online fraud orchestrated by unidentified men who offered him high returns through trading.
City cyber police began a probe after registering a case on the complaint of the victim. The Ulloor native, who has experience in trading, was contacted by the first accused on WhatsApp and offered guaranteed returns in trading through a platform titled T-6 Geojit Securities. Later, the second accused made him join a WhatsApp group where updates on the share markets were shared.
Believing them, the victim transferred Rs 15 lakh during various intervals between Oct 14 and Oct 22 to UCO Bank and Bank of Maharashtra accounts. The accused soon cut all contacts and that was when he realised that it was a scam. The man then approached the police with a complaint.
Police said that despite several awareness campaigns, more and more people are falling prey to online frauds in the city. The city cyber wing urged the public to be extra cautious about such activities and alert the police immediately. "The first one hour after the crime is called the golden hour. Reporting a crime during this period will help retrieve the lost money and trace the accused," said the police.