Meghalaya, Sept 16: Meghalaya has fallen victim to a significant online investment fraud, with more than 700 people losing over Rs 1 crore. Superintendent of Police (Sadar) and head of the Cyber Wing, Pankaj Kumar Rasgania, reported that eight cases have been filed in the Khasi and Garo Hills regions.
The scam, which began about five months ago, attracted victims with promises of high returns on investments. Rasgania noted that early detection helped limit the number of affected individuals.
Investors, some putting in lakhs and others just a few thousand rupees, were deceived by the fraudsters. Authorities are still determining the total amount lost. Initial investigations indicate the scammers have multiple accounts, including some registered in Hong Kong, and efforts are underway to determine whether this involves an international network or domestic actors.
The scheme involved luring people via social media with promises of substantial returns from cryptocurrency investments. Victims transferred funds through a fake app named “Datameer,” which then ceased operations, and the perpetrators vanished.
Rasgania also highlighted a growing trend in cybercrime and mentioned that the state’s cybercrime unit has frozen bank accounts linked to fraudulent activities, totaling Rs 2.4 crore since 2019.
