Sriganganagar: Wing Commander Robin Sebastian, posted at Suratgarh Air Base Station, fell victim to a social media trading app scam, losing approximately Rs 1.12 crore, police said.
The fraud began when the officer joined a WhatsApp group called “Growth Club” on June 10. On July 7, a link claiming to provide an app for IPO subscription and trading was shared in the group. Between June 10 and August 8, Sebastian transferred a total of Rs 1.12 crore from his SBI account to multiple accounts in Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bandhan Bank, IDFC, and Bank of Baroda.
Suspicion arose on August 13 when he attempted to withdraw funds from the app and was asked to deposit an additional Rs 42.96 lakh as short-term capital gains before withdrawal. Sebastian then discovered that numerous fake digital identities had been created in other names. He immediately contacted his SBI branch in Suratgarh, requested cancellation of the RTGS transactions, and lodged complaints with the Sriganganagar Cyber Cell and the National Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) by August 14.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Walia said cyber police promptly tracked the linked accounts, resulting in Rs 7 lakh being frozen. Investigations are ongoing, with more information being sought from banks to recover additional funds.
“The case highlights that cyber frauds targeting crores of rupees continue to surface. Past victims include retired bank officials, doctors, lawyers, and military personnel, showing the need for heightened vigilance,” the DSP added.
