Chikkamagaluru: A woman from Chikkamagaluru allegedly lost Rs 2.5 crore in an online trading investment fraud after being lured through a WhatsApp call. Police said the victim had some knowledge of online trading, which she explored through various websites for the past 10 years.According to the complaint, on Dec 21, 2025, she received a WhatsApp call from an unknown person who asked whether she was interested in online trading. The caller later persuaded her to open a virtual trading account, claiming there was a special offer available to 1,000 people that would help them earn higher profits.
Believing the promise of better returns, the woman began transferring money to the account. Over time, she deposited large sums and also paid additional amounts as commission to withdraw her invested money. In total, she transferred Rs 2.5 crore, including the commission payments. A police officer said the accused demanded a 20% commission for every withdrawal, calculated on both the invested amount and the profits shown in the account. The victim reportedly paid the commission multiple times, expecting her funds to be released. She later realised she had been cheated only when she still could not withdraw any money, even after making the commission payments. Chikkamagaluru CEN police registered a case and are investigating the fraud, including the identity of the caller, the accounts used to receive the transfers, and the digital trail linked to the virtual trading platform. Police urged the public to be cautious of unsolicited investment calls and schemes promising unusually high returns.
