Victim was added to a group posing as “H-10 Nuvama Health Group,” offering false investment advice and insider tips.
Initial small gains were shown on a fake site to build trust; later, large sums were extracted under the guise of “processing fees.”
Experts warn of a surge in such WhatsApp scams, where fake branding and upfront fee traps are used to dupe unsuspecting investors.
A retired professor and former director at JIPMER was devastated after losing nearly Rs 2 crore in a sophisticated WhatsApp investment scam. Dr M. Batmanabane Mounissamy filed a complaint with cybercrime authorities on Thursday. As reported, the scammers first added Dr Mounissamy to a WhatsApp group named “H‑10 Nuvama Health Group,” which claimed to provide exclusive “insider tips” and expert guidance on investing in Nuvama Funds, formerly known as Edelweiss. Dr Mounissamy, being a long-time investor in the company, assumed that the group was affiliated with the firm.
SurveyHe further wrote that one day, a person introducing herself as “Kangana” reached out to him privately, claiming to be a representative from the firm. She asked the victim to get himself registered on a website seemingly affiliated with Nuvama. On April 19, he invested Rs 10,000, and the site showed an immediate growth to Rs 13,000 in his portfolio to hype him up.
Believing the website was legitimate, he invested approximately Rs 1.9 crore, convinced that it’s a high-yielding investment. By late May, the platform showed a balance of Rs 35 crore, leaving the victim in complete disbelief. However, when he attempted to withdraw Rs 5 crore, his request was blocked, followed by hefty “processing fees” of Rs 32 lakh. However, it was later reduced to 25% of the withdrawal, making Dr Mounissamy pay another Rs 7.9 lakh.
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They didn’t stop there, but connected him to a supposed senior official named “Ashish Kehair.” Yet, he was not able to make the withdrawals, and contact was blocked, too. Only then did the professor realise he had been duped and approached the cybercrime authorities.
According to cybercrime experts, these scams are alarmingly increasing. Scammers have been duping users by creating convincing WhatsApp groups with popular brands’ names and luring them to fake sites or apps. They even show small gains to persuade users to invest more, and when victims request withdrawals, they demand upfront “fees.” Once paid, they simply block the users.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
