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ToggleIn today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, online scams have become increasingly advanced, targeting vulnerable individuals who may not be aware of the risks involved. A recent incident in Thiruvananthapuram serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by unsolicited communication. In this case, a 57-year-old woman residing in Sreekaryam lost a staggering Rs 1.32 crore after she fell prey to a sophisticated online trading scam that initiated with a seemingly harmless WhatsApp message.
The unfortunate incident commenced when the victim, in search of advice regarding online trading, received a message a few hours later that included a link directing her to an online trading platform.
Convinced of the message’s authenticity, the woman engaged with a scammer who encouraged her to download a specific mobile application tailored for trading. Throughout their interaction, the scammer ensured her that she would experience easy profits and rapid returns on her investments.
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Initially, she began with a modest investment, and to her astonishment, the platform displayed an impressive outcome, indicating that her investment had doubled. Motivated by this initial success, she opted to invest a more substantial amount. As her capital grew, the platform continued to reflect rising profits. She even successfully withdrew a nominal sum, further reinforcing her belief in the platform’s legitimacy.
However, the situation soured when she encountered difficulties withdrawing the remaining funds she had accumulated. The fraudsters informed her that in order to avoid having her previous investments frozen, she would need to make additional larger investments, as reported by TOI. Trusting their claims, the woman continued to pour more money into the platform, only to later discover the shocking truth that she had been scammed.
For further reading on similar cases, check out: Man loses Rs 23.4 lakh in online stock market scam: Tips to avoid such frauds.