Jodhpur: A neurosurgeon from Jodhpur lost ₹62.8 lakh to cybercriminals after being tricked into a fraudulent stock market investment scheme, according to the police.
Image Copied from ndtv
The scammers managed to swindle the entire amount within just a day and a half. Upon realizing he had been deceived, the victim, Dr. Tejpal Fidoda, immediately lodged an FIR at Bhagat Ki Kothi police station.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to Bhagat Ki Kothi police station in-charge Rajiv Bhadu, the incident began on January 3, when Dr. Fidoda received a link inviting him to join an app called SCIATOP and a WhatsApp investment group.
After clicking the link, he became a member of the group and installed the app. The group was operated by five administrators, with key contacts using mobile numbers 9973339746 and 7898103479, while three others were associated with 7357070457, 8624901375, and 7304417998.
Dr. Fidoda frequently interacted with two individuals, Niharika Tiwari and Saurabh Jain, who presented themselves as expert financial advisors. They created a private wealth group for him, offering specialized investment guidance.
False Promises and Manipulation
The fraudsters convinced Dr. Fidoda to transfer money into an institutional account, promising substantial returns within four months. They discouraged him from using his personal demat account and instead set up an institutional trading account on his mobile using the SCIATOP app.
They falsely claimed to be affiliated with Standard Chartered Wealth Fund and encouraged him to invest in OTC, IPOs, and institutional trading opportunities.
Under this deception, they systematically withdrew funds from his account.
The Final Blow
Once the money was transferred, the scammers falsely claimed that the funds had been frozen and pressured Dr. Fidoda to deposit additional money to release them. At this point, he realized he had fallen victim to a scam.
Investigation Underway
Following his complaint, Bhagat Ki Kothi police launched an investigation. Preliminary findings revealed that the scammers gained the doctor’s trust through persistent WhatsApp communication and fraudulent stock trading claims.
Authorities are currently tracking the involved bank accounts and mobile numbers in an effort to identify and arrest the culprits.
According to a report by NDTV, the case highlights the increasing threat of online investment frauds and serves as a warning for individuals to be cautious while engaging in stock market investments through unverified sources.
🔗 Source: NDTV
