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Hyderabad Police Probe Pre-IPO WhatsApp Scam That Cost Retired Banker ₹51 Lakh

Police say fraudsters posed as IIFL Capital, using a WhatsApp group with fake allotment screenshots to extract funds.

Overview

  • A 60-year-old retired bank employee from Malakpet lost about ₹51.20 lakh after responding to a Facebook advertisement that claimed to be from IIFL Capital.
  • After clicking the ad, he received WhatsApp messages from a person calling himself Goshan Yadav and was added to a group named “IIFL CS Pre-IPO 067.”
  • The group shared fabricated profit and allotment images, while a manipulated website displayed fake Groww and Tennind allocations and a portfolio inflated to roughly ₹1.30 crore.
  • Convinced by staged gains, the victim started with ₹8,000 and transferred funds through November 25, then faced a demand for an additional ₹51.23 lakh as a ‘release’ fee when he tried to withdraw.
  • Hyderabad’s cyber crimes wing has registered a case and issued a public advisory urging verification of investment offers and immediate reporting via helpline 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in.