A retired IT professional in Pune fell victim to fraudsters who posed as investment experts on WhatsApp and Telegram, leading to a cyber fraud case amounting to over Rs 4.43 crore. The victim, Ujjwal Digambar Chaudhary, was enticed with promises of high returns through stock market investments, with fake profits exceeding Rs 26 crore displayed on a fraudulent online trading platform.
Chaudhary, a 46-year-old resident of Roseland Residency in Pune, had been actively investing in the stock market for 15 years and managed his portfolio from home after returning to India in October 2025. While browsing Telegram on March 29, he encountered an investment ad linked to an account named “Amit20891,” which offered significant returns and invited users to join a WhatsApp group for stock market guidance.
Trusting the advertisement, Chaudhary joined the WhatsApp group, where individuals named Myra Sharma and Surendra Rosha acted as administrators. Members shared stock recommendations claiming high returns, with screenshots showing profits of 25-75%, fostering trust in the group. The victim initially followed some suggestions and earned profits, boosting his confidence in the group.
The fraud intensified when the original WhatsApp group was closed for security reasons, and Chaudhary was added to other groups promising greater profits through a specialized trading mechanism. The victim was directed to create an “internal equity account” on various websites provided by the fraudsters, who instructed him to transfer funds into multiple bank accounts for investments.
Encouraged by a displayed profit of Rs 26,64,46,237 against his investments, Chaudhary sought to withdraw the amount but was asked to pay a service charge equivalent to five percent of the profits before withdrawals could be processed. Realizing he was likely a victim of fraud, he filed a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on June 1, alleging a sophisticated scam involving crores of rupees.
