Daijiworld Media Network - Thane
Thane, Jan 21: A 56-year-old resident of Kasarvadavali in Thane district was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.7 crore in a well-orchestrated online investment fraud that originated from a Facebook message and was executed through social media platforms, police said.
The victim, a resident of Anand Nagar with an interest in stock market trading, was drawn into what appeared to be a genuine investment opportunity but later turned out to be an elaborate cybercrime operation. According to the police, the fraud began in November 2025 when the complainant received a message on Facebook Messenger from a person identifying himself as Aman Gautam, who claimed to be a seasoned share market investment adviser.
After gaining the victim’s confidence by promising high returns and sharing convincing details, the accused sent him a link to join a WhatsApp group titled ‘Short Term Hunters 116’. Once added to the group, another individual named Divya Mehra allegedly took over the interaction and guided the victim further.
Mehra instructed the victim to download an application named ‘Niv Pro’ from the Apple Store, claiming it was required to create a trading account. Believing the claims, the victim downloaded the app and was provided with multiple bank account numbers to transfer money for investments.
Between November 6 and December 19, 2025, the victim transferred amounts in several transactions, cumulatively totalling Rs 1.7 crore. During this period, the fraudsters remained in constant contact, sharing fabricated trading updates and fake profit statements to reinforce the illusion of genuine profits.
The fraud came to light when the victim attempted to withdraw his funds. He faced repeated technical issues, vague explanations and was eventually locked out of the application. Soon after, both Aman Gautam and Divya Mehra stopped responding to his messages, prompting him to realise he had been cheated.
Thane police have registered a case against Aman Gautam, Divya Mehra and the administrators of the WhatsApp group under charges of cheating and online financial fraud. The cyber cell has launched an investigation to trace the digital footprints of the Facebook accounts and bank details linked to the transactions.
Police have advised citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited investment offers received online and to verify the credentials of advisers and platforms through authorised channels before making any financial commitments.