Shock! Kerala man loses ₹4.05 crore in WhatsApp scam—Don’t fall for this dangerous trap!

Tripunithura (The Uttam Hindu): A man from Thekkumbhagam, Tripunithura, Kerala, fell victim to a cyber scam, losing Rs 4.05 crore after downloading a fake investment app from a WhatsApp link. The 45-year-old victim was contacted by a woman named Avanthika Dev, who pretended to be a representative of a reputed financial services company.

She convinced the victim to download an app called Br-Block Pro, which was purported to offer profitable share trading opportunities. The scammer provided fake reports showing high returns to gain the victim's trust. Over a span of two and a half months, from September 26 to December 9, the victim made several deposits into the app, believing he would earn high profits.

However, when he attempted to withdraw his earnings, he was unable to access any funds. Alarmed by the situation, the victim approached the cyber police, leading to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR). This incident is part of a growing trend where cyber fraudsters exploit individuals’ greed, using WhatsApp groups and deceptive apps to scam people across the country. Such cases are becoming increasingly common, highlighting the risks of online investment schemes promising high returns.