In a major cyber fraud case reported from the Misrod area of the city, a 61-year-old senior citizen was allegedly swindled of Rs 57 lakh under the pretext of high-yield share trading. The fraudsters maintained a sophisticated ruse for nearly a month and a half, persuading the victim to invest life savings before disappearing once the accounts were emptied. The lure of double returns

 

The victim, identified as Pankaj Srivastava, a resident of Shiv Angan Colony in Misrod, fell prey to the scam in December 2025. According to police reports, Srivastava initially connected with the scammers through a contact number provided by an acquaintance. The perpetrator, posing as an ‘online share trading expert’, promised significant profits within a short timeframe.

 

To gain Srivastava’s confidence, the fraudsters instructed him to operate via two specific online accounts. They explained that one account would function as the investment portal for capital deposits, while the second ‘shadow’ account would display the accumulated profits. The scammer claimed the funds were being invested in high-performing companies to ensure the capital doubled rapidly. Trusting the expert’s credentials and the growing figures shown in his profit account, Srivastava invested approximately Rs 57 lakh in multiple installments throughout December.

 

However, the deception came to light recently when Srivastava checked his portals only to find the balances in both accounts wiped clean to zero.Subsequent attempts to reach via mobile and online channels proved futile, as the contact numbers had been deactivated. Following a written complaint, the Cyber Cell conducted a preliminary inquiry before registering a ‘Zero FIR’. The case has since been transferred to the Misrod Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the victim resides.We have registered a case of fraud against unidentified accused," Misrod Police stated. "Our teams are currently analyzing the digital footprint of the transaction, including bank account details, transaction trails, and the mobile numbers used by the perpetrators to track the flow of the stolen funds.