Mumbai Tea Café Owner Duped of ₹34.6 Lakh in Social Media Investment Scam

Mumbai: In yet another case of online financial fraud, a tea café owner from Ghatkopar in Mumbai has allegedly been cheated of ₹34.6 lakh after falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme operating through social media.

According to police sources, the 45-year-old café owner was approached through a social media investment group that claimed to offer lucrative returns through online share trading. The fraudsters reportedly convinced him that he could earn substantial profits by investing money in stock market trading through their platform.

Trusting the claims made by the group, the victim gradually transferred funds between December 24, 2025 and March 11, 2026, sending a total of ₹34.6 lakh to multiple bank accounts and payment links provided by the accused.

Initially, the fraudsters allegedly showed the victim fake profit figures on a trading dashboard to gain his confidence and encourage further investment. However, the scam came to light when the café owner attempted to withdraw a portion of the supposed profits.

Police said the withdrawal request failed, and the fraudsters then allegedly demanded additional deposits, claiming that the money was required as “processing charges” or “tax clearance” to release the funds.

Suspecting foul play after repeated demands for more money and being unable to access his investment, the victim realised he had been cheated and approached the police to file a complaint.

Officials said the case has been registered under relevant sections related to cyber fraud and cheating, and an investigation is currently underway to trace the individuals behind the fake investment group.

Cyber crime experts have once again warned citizens to remain cautious while joining online investment groups on social media platforms, as many such schemes promise unrealistic returns and are often used by fraudsters to trap unsuspecting victims.

Authorities have advised investors to verify trading platforms through official regulatory bodies before transferring money and to avoid sharing financial details with unknown individuals online.