Exposing Facebook Reels Scams: How Investment Fraud Threatens Users

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A retired school principal from Chandrapur district in Maharashtra lost ₹9.46 lakh through a fraudulent investment scheme linked to a social media platform.

Incident Overview

A retired school principal from Chandrapur district in Maharashtra reportedly lost ₹9.46 lakh following a fraudulent investment scheme linked to a social media platform. The incident involved a deceptive advertisement promoting high returns, which led the victim to engage with a suspected malicious application. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the digital footprint, financial transactions, and potential connections to organized cybercrime networks.

Victim Details and Fraudulent Process

The victim, identified as Balwant Ghadle from Borda village in Warora tehsil, encountered an investment promotion on a social media service in October 2025. The advertisement claimed to offer exceptionally high returns, prompting the individual to provide personal details through a linked interface. Subsequently, the victim was contacted by an individual claiming to be Ayan Pranav, who allegedly guided him through a series of financial transactions.

Initial Payment and Escalation

The complainant stated that an initial payment of ₹22,020 was required as a membership fee. Further interactions allegedly encouraged additional investments, with promises of increased profits. Over multiple transactions, the victim transferred ₹44,200 and later ₹8.80 lakh via RTGS into accounts specified by the fraudsters.

Fraudulent Application and Withdrawal Failure

The perpetrators reportedly utilized a mobile application named 9 Pro, which displayed fabricated investment growth and account balances to deceive the victim. When the complainant attempted to withdraw funds in November 2025, the transaction failed. Subsequent checks revealed that the app’s displayed balance had dropped to zero, leading to the realization of fraud.

Investigation and Legal Action

The victim filed a report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal but reportedly received no resolution, prompting a formal complaint to the Warora Police Station. Investigative efforts are focused on tracing the financial transactions, analyzing the digital infrastructure of the alleged investment platform, and identifying individuals involved in the scheme. Authorities are also examining whether the fraud is connected to a broader organized cybercrime operation.

Cybersecurity Warnings and Recommendations

Cybersecurity experts have issued warnings against engaging with investment opportunities advertised on social media platforms that guarantee unusually high or guaranteed returns. Recommendations include verifying the legitimacy of financial applications, avoiding the disclosure of personal or financial information through untrusted links, and conducting thorough due diligence before transferring funds to unfamiliar entities.

According to the reported case, the victim, identified as Balwant Ghadle from Borda village in Warora tehsil, encountered an investment promotion on a social media service in October 2025.