20-Year-Old Arrested in ₹26.12 Lakh Telegram Investment Fraud

The case involves a Surat businessman who was allegedly lured with promises of easy money through social media. The fraudsters initially paid him ₹150 for completing small online tasks, including liking and reviewing posts. After receiving the initial payment, the businessman reportedly began trusting the scheme. The accused then allegedly shifted the conversation towards investment-based tasks and promised higher returns.

According to police, the fraud began on Telegram. The initial payments were allegedly intended to build the victim’s confidence in the scheme. Once the trust was established, he was persuaded to invest money through an alleged investment platform. He was repeatedly asked to make payments on the assurance that his investment and profits could later be withdrawn easily.

The investigation found that the businessman transferred a total of ₹26.12 lakh in multiple transactions to accounts provided by the fraudsters. After investing a substantial amount, he attempted to withdraw his money but was unable to do so. When repeated attempts failed, he realised that he had allegedly been cheated and approached the cyber cell.