Harihar man loses Rs 75.4 lakh in WhatsApp investment scam

Davanagere: A 71-year-old man from Harihar town lost Rs 75.4 lakh in a cyber fraud after being lured with false promises of high investment returns. The elderly victim was contacted on WhatsApp by two persons, identified as Mala Todarwala and Suresh Shukla, who posed as investment advisors.

According to the FIR, the fraudsters persuaded him to invest in what they claimed was SBI Securities Limited. They assured him his money would double, gradually gaining his trust and prompting him to invest larger sums over time. Believing their claims, the victim transferred a total of Rs 75.4 lakh in multiple instalments.

The fraud came to light when neither the invested amount nor the promised returns were received. As suspicion grew, the victim tried contacting Mala Todarwala and Suresh Shukla on WhatsApp, but the calls failed to connect. Realising he had been cheated, he approached the cybercrime police and filed a complaint.

Police at the Davanagere CEN station have registered a case and launched an investigation into the fraud. The incident highlights how cybercriminals continue to exploit trust through messaging platforms despite repeated awareness campaigns by the Davanagere district police warning the public about online investment scams.