TL;DR
- The victim is from Thekkumbhagam, Tripunithura, and Kerela.
- Through WhatsApp, a fake representative convened the victim to download a deceptive app.
- The app promised exceptional returns on investment but didn’t deliver or allow the victim to withdraw his money.
In a fresh cyber scam, a Kerela man has lost over Rs. 4 crore to a fake app that promised some sort of investment opportunities. A woman impersonating a representative of the investment firm approached the 45-year-old man through the popular online messaging platform WhatsApp.
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Fake Representative Convinced Victim To Invest Via The App
Through the platform, the woman convinced the victim to download Br-Block Pro, the deceptive app that was later used by the criminal to dupe the man. The report by Times of India adds that the app seemed to be designed for share trading and earning more than usual profits.
To make it look like a genuine share trading platform, the app showcased high returns from several trades, along with success stories from other users. Upon seeing the manipulated reports, the victim made multiple investments over a month-and-a-half, between September 26 and December 4.
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Upon Not Getting The Promised Returns, The Victim Got Suspicious
However, when the victim didn’t get the promised returns, he tried to reach out to the representative, but to no avail. Further, he tried to withdraw the investments but couldn’t do so. It was then that the victim reached out for help and registered an FIR against the app. However, he had already lost Rs. 4.05 crore by then.
The victim is from Thekkumbhagam, Tripunithura, and Kerela. Further investigation is being conducted against the fraudsters. It is important to mention here that thousands of such cases happen every year. However, one can take a few precautions to avoid such cases and safeguard their money, private information, or other sensitive details.
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Follow These Practises To Be Safe Online
First and foremost, no one should ever download an app through a link sent on WhatsApp, especially from an unknown sender. If the app isn’t available on the Play Store, Google didn’t approve it for a reason. Further, tapping on suspicious links (whether in messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, or email), which you don’t have any information about, isn’t something anyone should do.
Last but not least, never make financial transactions via apps or platforms that aren’t from a trustworthy source. Even if the app is available on the app store, one must check the developer, reviews, and ratings before downloading and installing it on their smartphone.
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