69-year-old Banjara Hills doctor lost ₹10 lakh in online trading scam.
Contacted via WhatsApp on 25 February 2026 by fraudster posing as investment advisor.
Invested ₹10,000 first, then ₹5 lakh each on 25 and 26 February.
Fake dashboard showed ₹31.8 lakh balance.
Withdrawal blocked; complaint filed with Hyderabad Cybercrime Police.
A 69-year-old woman doctor from Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, lost ₹10 lakh to cyber fraudsters who lured her through a fake online trading platform in February 2026. The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the accused and track the beneficiary bank accounts.
The incident began on 25 February 2026, when the doctor received a WhatsApp message from a UK-based number. The sender identified himself as “Madhu” and claimed to represent an Australian investment platform named Galaxy.
He added the victim to a WhatsApp group titled “e Toro Analytical Team QH963,” where several individuals posed as investment advisors. They claimed they could generate high profits through structured online share trading and institutional investment strategies.
To test the platform, the doctor initially transferred ₹10,000. Soon after, the trading dashboard displayed profits, which appeared legitimate and built her confidence in the scheme.
Encouraged by the apparent gains, she transferred ₹5 lakh on 25 February 2026 to a bank account provided by the fraudsters. The next day, on 26 February 2026, she transferred another ₹5 lakh to the same account.
The platform’s digital wallet later displayed a balance of ₹31,80,623, convincing her that her investments had multiplied significantly.
When the doctor attempted to withdraw the amount, the platform blocked the withdrawal option. The fraudsters stopped responding to her messages and calls.
After discussing the issue with her husband, she realized she had been cheated.
The victim filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police and reported the matter through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Police registered a case and began efforts to identify the accused individuals, trace the bank accounts used in the fraud, and analyze the digital trail associated with the WhatsApp communications and trading platform.
Authorities advise investors to verify the authenticity and regulatory status of any trading platform before transferring funds.
(Rh/ARC)