Indore : In yet another case of online investment fraud, an Indore-based doctor lost ₹3.08 crore to a woman posing as an investment advisor on WhatsApp. The incident has raised concerns about the growing trend of online scams targeting professionals, despite repeated police warnings.
The doctor was reportedly approached by a woman named Aaru Bhatt, also known as Aarti Bhatt, via a social media platform. She lured him into an online trading scheme through a portal called “WEBULL,” promising lucrative returns on investments.
Initially, the fraudster gained the doctor’s trust by sharing small profits on his early investments. Convinced by the apparent success, the doctor transferred ₹1 crore to a bank account provided by the scammer. However, he neither received the promised high returns nor his initial investment.
When the doctor attempted to withdraw his funds, he was informed by a supposed customer service agent that he needed to pay a 30% income tax fee to access the money. In a bid to recover his investment, the doctor transferred an additional ₹55 lakh as income tax. Despite assurances, the funds were never released, and the doctor realized he had been duped.
A complaint was subsequently filed at the local police station, and an investigation is underway. Authorities are attempting to trace the accused and recover the stolen funds.
This incident follows a similar case in Bengaluru, where a gynecologist was swindled out of ₹2.5 crore and gold by another fraudster. These scams highlight the need for increased vigilance and awareness among citizens to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.
Police have reiterated their advice to the public to verify all investment opportunities and avoid transferring funds to unknown individuals or platforms.
