Shimla Man Duped of ₹38 Lakh in Social Media Investment Scam

Shimla, November 4 || Diary Times News Bureau

A man from Shimla has reportedly lost over ₹38 lakh after falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme advertised on social media. The scammers had posted an attractive advertisement on Facebook, promising unusually high returns on investments. Tempted by the offer, the victim — a resident of Lakkar Bazaar — invested his hard-earned savings, only to later discover that both his money and the fraudsters had disappeared.

According to the complaint filed with the police, Satpal Rattan, a resident of Lakkar Bazaar, said he had come across an investment advertisement on Facebook a few months ago. The ad claimed that investors would receive substantial profits within a short period. Trusting the offer, he contacted the operators through the link provided in the post and followed their instructions to complete the investment process.

To win his confidence, the fraudsters even sent him several official-looking documents, which later turned out to be fake. Over multiple transactions, Satpal transferred a total of ₹38,13,539 in the name of investment. However, when he later tried to claim his promised returns or request a refund, the scammers stopped responding altogether. After several failed attempts to reach them, he realized he had been cheated.

Satpal subsequently lodged a formal complaint at Sadar Police Station, Shimla. Acting on the complaint, police registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A police official confirmed that the matter involves a serious financial crime and said a detailed investigation is underway.

Authorities have also appealed to the public to remain vigilant against such social media investment scams, warning that online advertisements offering quick or guaranteed returns are often fraudulent.