- The post posed as investment scheme
- Authorities continue to urge citizens to avoid investment groups, unsolicited digital contacts, and unregulated trading platforms, emphasising that legitimate investment firms never promise immediate profits or require repeated personal cash transfers
A 40-year-old Non-Resident Indian from Udupi has reportedly lost more than ₹12.25 lakh after falling prey to an elaborate Telegram-based investment scam. The complaint, filed at the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station, highlights a scheme that cleverly blended small initial returns with false promises of high-value profits.
The victim, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, has lived in Dubai for 15 years working in computer accessories sales. According to the complaint, he was unexpectedly added on November 12, 2025, to a Telegram group titled Instaflow Earnings. Two users, identifying themselves as Priya and Dipannita, began interacting with him and introduced him to “Revenue Tasks,” which they claimed would yield quick income.
To build trust, the scammers persuaded him to make small trial investments. He transferred ₹1,100 and received ₹1,530 in return — a tactic often used in digital Ponzi-style scams. Encouraged by multiple successful cycles, he repeated similar transfers 10–12 times.
Authorities continue to urge citizens to avoid investment groups, unsolicited digital contacts, and unregulated trading platforms, emphasising that legitimate investment firms never promise immediate profits or require repeated personal cash transfers
Soon after, another alleged handler, using the name Nishmitha Shetty, guided him to register on a website called digitvisionuoce.cc and instructed him to invest ₹4 lakh in different “shares” listed on the platform. Over the next few days, between November 15 and 17, he made several transfers, including a ₹50,000 Google Pay transaction, amounting to a total loss of ₹12.25 lakh.
Once the scammers received the full amount, all communication abruptly stopped. The promised profits never materialised, and the website became unresponsive. Police have now registered a case under Sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 318(4).
The case underscores a sharp rise in online frauds targeting NRIs, who are often viewed as high-value targets due to their overseas income. Investigators are now trying to trace the money trail and identify the individuals behind the Telegram profiles and associated bank accounts.
