Police here have registered three distinct cybercrime complaints in recent weeks involving elaborate con tricks that used social media platforms — primarily Facebook and Instagram — as their primary hunting ground. The victims, who come from different walks of life, shared a common experience: they were approached with enticing offers that ultimately turned out to be fabricated, leaving them with heavy financial losses.
According to police sources, the first case involves a businessman who was lured into what he believed was a lucrative investment or trading opportunity advertised on Facebook. He transferred substantial sums of money to individuals posing as legitimate traders or business partners. When he realized the venture did not exist, he filed a complaint at a local police station.
In the second case, a hotel waiter lost money after responding to an Instagram advertisement claiming to offer easy earnings through a so-called app-based task or referral scheme. Such scams typically promise quick returns for minimal effort, directing users to fake platforms where deposits are accepted but withdrawals are never permitted.
The third victim, identified as a salesman, was duped through a similar Facebook-linked fraud involving either a fake e-commerce offer or a purported job opportunity that demanded an upfront payment. Investigators believe the scammers may have operated from multiple hubs and used identical templates to target different segments of Mumbai's population.
Detectives say the total loss across all three cases exceeds Rs 7 lakh. The scams, they noted, share a common signature: attractive ads on social media, promises of high returns or guaranteed employment, pressure tactics urging victims to act quickly, and repeated requests for payments through digital wallets or bank transfers before the scam unravels.
Cybercrime experts have warned that scammers increasingly use sophisticated profiles on Facebook and Instagram, complete with fake testimonials, cloned brand imagery, and manipulated screenshots showing supposed profits. Many victims only realize they have been defrauded after days or weeks of chasing elusive refunds or promised payouts.
Police have urged residents to verify any online offer through official channels before parting with money, avoid clicking on unsolicited links, and immediately report suspicious transactions to the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or through the government's cybercrime reporting portal.
