Kochi witnessed a fresh wave of online investment frauds just days after news broke of a city-based pharmaceutical businessman losing Rs 25 crore in a similar scam. On Tuesday, police reported three more cases where individuals, including senior citizens, lost a combined Rs 85.5 lakh to fraudulent trading schemes.
Senior Citizen Loses Over Rs 65 Lakh
The biggest loss was reported from Udayamperoor, where a senior citizen was cheated of Rs 65.45 lakh. Fraudsters promised him 8–15% profit through pre-market trading in Indian and US stock markets. After gaining his trust, they added him to a WhatsApp group managed by four administrators. One of them, posing as ‘Arya’, directed him to download a fake trading app called Cantillon Capital. Between July and August 2025, the victim transferred money through 16 transactions, amounting to Rs 65.54 lakh.
Instagram Ad Leads to Rs 12.5 Lakh Fraud
In another case, a 37-year-old man from Kollam, currently residing in Kanayannur, fell prey to fraudsters after clicking on an Instagram advertisement for low-cost trading lessons. He was added to a WhatsApp group named 5Paisa v592 Traders Hub. There, individuals posing as ‘Tanusree’ and ‘Sandeep’ convinced him to invest, promising high profits. He ended up transferring Rs 12.5 lakh across 10 transactions to various accounts.
Woman Duped of Rs 7.5 Lakh
The third victim, a 66-year-old woman from Elamakkara, lost Rs 7.5 lakh after being persuaded to invest in an online share trading scheme run under the name Naka Solutions. Police confirmed that the fraud followed the same pattern of luring victims with promises of quick profits.
Special Team Formed After Rs 25 Crore Scam
Meanwhile, Kochi City Police have stepped up efforts following the earlier case where a pharmaceutical businessman lost Rs 25 crore to an online investment racket. A special investigation team (SIT), led by Cyber ACP Sulfikkar and Cyber Police Station House Officer P A Shemeer Khan, has been formed to probe the matter.
Though the cyber squad has limited manpower, officials said all resources have been deployed, given the seriousness of the case and scale of financial losses. Initial findings show the businessman transferred money into multiple bank accounts, receiving about Rs 1 crore in returns initially, which convinced him the scheme was genuine. Police believe his reluctance to disclose his identity is due to concerns about damaging his business reputation. Investigators are now examining his financial dealings in detail.
Growing Concern Over Online Fraud
Police sources noted that Kochi has seen a surge in online scams, particularly involving fake trading platforms and WhatsApp groups promising unrealistic profits. Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution, avoid suspicious investment offers, and verify the authenticity of apps and schemes before transferring funds.
