In a shocking turn of events, an Indian software engineer, Kuldeep Patel, has fallen victim to a cryptocurrency scam after seeking advice from a woman he met on a matrimonial site. India Today reports that Patel, who was working as a software engineer in Gandhinagar city, Gujarat, has lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police, revealing that he lost a staggering INR 10 million to the scam.
The unfortunate saga began when Patel connected with a woman named Aditi on a matrimonial site in June. Aditi, who claimed to be involved in import and export business in the UK, persuaded Patel to invest in a cryptocurrency known as ‘banocoin’ with the promise of substantial returns.
Eager to enhance his financial prospects, Patel took the plunge and initiated contact with a representative of Banocoin. He registered on their website and commenced his investment journey with an initial sum of INR 100,000. As his investments seemed to yield positive results, with a profit of 78 USDT (US dollar tether) being recorded, Patel increased his stakes.
Between July 20 and August 31, Patel engaged in a series of 18 transactions, sinking a substantial amount of money into the cryptocurrency. However, his optimism was short-lived. On September 3, when Patel attempted to withdraw INR 259,000 from his account, he was met with a shocking revelation – his account had been frozen.
In a desperate bid to regain control of his funds, Patel contacted the customer care representative, only to be informed that he needed to invest an additional INR 350,000 to unfreeze his account. Realizing that something was amiss, Patel attempted to contact Aditi, the woman who had initially advised him to invest. Unfortunately, his attempts to reach her proved futile, revealing the grim reality that he had been ensnared in a meticulously planned cryptocurrency scam.
As investigations into the case unfold, authorities are urging citizens to exercise caution when considering cryptocurrency investments and to be wary of individuals offering lucrative opportunities, especially on online platforms. This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence and skepticism in the world of digital currencies, where scams can lurk behind seemingly promising prospects.
