Share It all begins with a click! The moment you consider that one fake ad as an authentic one, there you lose it. With social media, the line between the fake and real is getting blurred day by day. In a similar manner, a doctor from Barasat, near Kolkata, recently lost a shocking Rs 36 lakh to an online scam that started with something as simple as clicking on a Facebook ad.
As per a report by The Telegraph Online, the ad seemed harmless at first as it promised smart investment advice and suggested to offer high returns. This is how these ads work. Curious, and hoping to earn some extra income, the doctor clicked on it. That one click redirected him to a WhatsApp group that claimed to offer stock market guidance.
The WhatsApp group looked initially legitimate as people were sharing tips, talking about their profits, and encouraging each other to invest. As his trust built on witnessing people investing in the group, the doctor started investing money bit by bit. Over the course of two months, he made ten separate transactions, adding up to Rs 36 lakh.
The trouble began when he tried to withdraw his “returns.” Suddenly, he couldn’t access his investment account and his messages in the WhatsApp group went unanswered. That’s when the realisation hit—he had been scammed. As soon as he realised, he reported the incident to the police.
The West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) started investigation and the CID found that Rs 18 lakh of the stolen money had been transferred to a company called The Local Brand Shop. The company is owned by Prosenjit Ranjan Nath, a 34-year-old film producer and entrepreneur, the report suggested. Later, Nath was arrested
This is not the only case. You must have witnessed many such incidents in your friends or known people or at least read in the news. Such fake investment scams are becoming common every day. Here is how to keep yourself safe:
Author Name | Divya
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