Bengaluru Senior Citizen Duped of ₹1.33 Crore in Investment Scam

A 74-year-old Bengaluru resident lost ₹1.33 crore after being duped by a man posing as a representative of a reputed wealth management firm. The victim, Shivakumar, has filed a complaint with the National Cybercrime Cell, and an investigation is underway.

According to an NDTV report, Shivakumar came across a website claiming to belong to Anand Rathi Wealth Limited while browsing online. Using the contact number provided, he reached out on WhatsApp and was connected to a man identifying himself as Ankith Mahesh. The accused allegedly pitched high-return investment plans, including IPO-related offers, and persuaded Shivakumar to download an app via the link anewadmini.top.

Believing the promises of quick profits, Shivakumar transferred ₹1,15,50,000 from his Axis Bank account. He also facilitated a separate transfer of ₹18,00,000 from the Canara Bank account of his relative, Vinay Kumar — bringing the total to ₹1,33,50,000.

When Mahesh failed to return the money or provide any returns, Shivakumar realised he had been scammed. He filed a formal complaint on September 21. Cybercrime officials are now tracing the digital trail and financial transactions involved in the case.