19-year-old Hyderabad student loses ₹1 lakh to Instagram-linked investment scam via WhatsApp and fake e-commerce site

Summary

A 19-year-old student from Hyderabad was scammed out of over ₹1 lakh through an online investment scam on Instagram. The scam involved an initial message on Instagram and subsequent contact via WhatsApp from an international number. The victim was directed to a Telegram group and a fake website resembling a popular e-commerce platform. The incident occurred in May 2025, and the victim was promised a commission-based earnings opportunity linked to an e-commerce platform. A cyber crime police officer confirmed the details of the scam.