Retired Army Captain Loses Lakhs in Prayagraj Investment Scam: A Cautionary Tale

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Retired Indian Army Captain Loses ₹13.97 Lakh to Sophisticated Investment Scam

A retired Indian Army captain has fallen victim to a sophisticated investment scam, losing approximately ₹13.97 lakh to cybercriminals who promised unusually high returns on investment.

Incident Details

The victim, Shashikant Mishra, a resident of Prayagraj, received a suspicious link on his mobile phone from a group claiming to be “New Berry Group.” After clicking on the link, Mishra was contacted by two individuals, Rajesh Modi and Meena Joshi, who presented themselves as experienced financial advisors associated with an investment firm.

According to police sources, the duo allegedly showed Mishra fabricated data and testimonials to convince him of the legitimacy of their operations and guided him on how to transfer funds into various bank accounts.

Believing their claims, Mishra transferred the funds in multiple installments over a short period. However, after the money was transferred, communication from the accused gradually ceased, and Mishra’s attempts to inquire about the promised returns or withdrawal of his funds were met with silence.

Investigation and Advice

Upon realizing he had been cheated, Mishra filed a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station in Prayagraj. Authorities have launched an investigation and are working to trace the accused through digital footprints, transaction records, and IP address tracking.

The bank accounts into which the money was transferred are also being scrutinized to identify the beneficiaries and freeze any remaining funds.

Authorities have advised citizens to exercise extreme caution while dealing with online investment offers and to verify the authenticity of investment firms before transferring any funds.

To avoid falling victim to such scams, citizens are urged not to click on unknown links received via SMS or social media platforms. Instead, they should report incidents on the national cyber helpline number 1930 or file complaints through the official cyber crime reporting portal to increase the chances of fund recovery.