Noida Woman Duped of Rs 41.45 Lakh in Sophisticated Currency Scam
A Noida woman was defrauded of Rs 41.45 lakh after responding to a fake currency exchange ad on Facebook. Read how the scam unfolded.
In a shocking instance of cybercrime, a resident of Noida has been defrauded of a staggering Rs 41.45 lakh through a meticulously planned online currency exchange scam. The victim, identified as Anuradha Chhetri from Sector-26, fell prey to a network of fraudsters who used social media and impersonation to drain her bank account over a span of less than two weeks.
The Bait: A Facebook Advertisement
The nightmare began on October 1, 2026, when Ms. Chhetri came across an advertisement on Facebook. The ad promised lucrative high returns for individuals willing to exchange old currency notes. Enticed by the prospect of significant profit, she responded to the post, which opened the door for the scammers to initiate their trap.
Following her initial inquiry, the perpetrators shifted the conversation to more personal channels, contacting her via WhatsApp and direct phone calls to build a sense of trust and urgency.
The Trap: Impersonation and Coercion
As the interaction progressed, the scammers escalated their tactics. To make the scheme appear legitimate, the fraudsters began impersonating officials from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department. They convinced the victim that in order to receive her promised returns, she needed to clear certain administrative hurdles.
Under the guise of mandatory GST payments and various other "administrative fees," the victim was coerced into transferring money in multiple installments. Between October 1 and October 13, the total amount siphoned from her account reached Rs 4,145,038.
Threats of Legal Action
The fraud did not stop at mere deception. When the victim likely became hesitant or questioned the mounting costs, the accused turned to intimidation. They threatened her with severe legal action, claiming that failure to comply with their payment demands would lead to official prosecution, further pressuring her to send more funds.
Police Launch Investigation
Realizing she had been cheated, Anuradha Chhetri approached the authorities to file a formal complaint. The Cyber Crime Police Station in Noida has since registered a criminal case against the unidentified perpetrators.
Preeti Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime), has confirmed that a full-scale investigation is now underway. The police are focusing on several key areas to track down the culprits:
- Digital Footprints: Analyzing the social media accounts used to post the fraudulent advertisement.
- Communication Logs: Examining phone records and WhatsApp trails.
- Financial Trails: Scrutinizing bank transaction details to identify where the stolen funds were transferred.