Raipur Doctor Duped of ₹1.51 Lakh in WhatsApp Trading Scam Through 13 UPI Transfers

April 27, 2026 : A woman doctor in Raipur has reportedly lost ₹1.51 lakh in a cyber fraud after being lured into a fake online trading scheme circulated via WhatsApp. The accused convinced her to transfer money in multiple instalments by promising high returns, which never materialised.

The victim, Dr Pooja Kishor, who works at a private children’s hospital in the city, approached the City Kotwali police after realising she had been cheated. According to her complaint, she was contacted on April 24, 2026, through two separate WhatsApp numbers by individuals posing as investment facilitators.

The fraudsters claimed they could generate quick profits through an online trading plan and gradually gained her trust through repeated communication. Believing the claims, she agreed to invest and began transferring money through UPI.

Police said she made 13 transactions, including amounts such as ₹22,178, ₹22,177, ₹5,000, ₹22,937, ₹15,999, ₹10,212, and ₹29,999, taking the total to ₹1,51,439. The funds were transferred to multiple accounts linked to Kotak Mahindra Bank and State Bank of India.

As her own account had a transfer limit of ₹1 lakh, the accused allegedly persuaded her to continue payments using accounts belonging to her friends. She used the bank accounts of Lokesh Bandebuchche and Niranjan Sawant to complete further transactions, which are now under investigation.

When no returns were credited and the accused continued to demand additional payments, she grew suspicious and reported the matter to the police.

Authorities have registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and initiated an investigation. Officials are tracing the mobile numbers used in the fraud and examining the bank accounts and UPI IDs involved. Digital transaction records are also being analysed to identify the accused and determine whether the case is part of a larger organised cyber fraud network.

Police have warned the public about the increasing number of such scams involving fake trading schemes on messaging platforms. They have advised people to verify investment opportunities before transferring money and to report suspicious activity promptly.