Mumbai Engineer Defrauded of ₹12.21 Lakh via Astrology App Scam
The Western Cyber Police have launched an investigation after a 25-year-old victim reported being coerced into payments through threats and psychological manipulation by fraudsters posing as priests.
- A Bandra-based software engineer lost ₹12.21 lakh after being targeted through the 'Divine Talk' astrology app, which he had used more frequently since August 2024 during personal struggles.
- Fraudsters posing as spiritual guides and priests demanded payments for rituals, threatening the victim with death and misfortune if the rituals remained incomplete.
- The victim made payments in multiple tranches, including ₹9.80 lakh via credit card, before realizing the scam after confiding in friends and checking app reviews that revealed similar complaints.
- The Western Cyber Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act on March 24, 2025, and are investigating the fraud using digital and financial evidence.
- The case highlights the growing trend of cyber fraud in India, where scammers exploit digital platforms and psychological tactics to prey on vulnerable individuals.
Free Press Journal 
Hindustan Times 
