• Source:JND
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A shocking case of cyber fraud has come to light from Puducherry in which a retired professor and ex-director of JIPMER, Dr M. Batmanabane Mounissamy, lost close to ₹2 crore in a WhatsApp investment scam. This case raises concerns about the increasing number of tech-savvy scammers looking to exploit educated people through fake investment schemes.

Let’s break down how the timer worked, what some experts are saying about it, and what you can do to avoid getting scammed.

How the Scam Unfolded

Dr. Mounissamy was added to an investment group on WhatsApp called “H‑10 Nuvama Health Group” that purportedly shared tips related to investments on Nuvema Funds (Edelweiss). Given his past association with the brand, he accepted the group as genuine.

Key steps that contributed towards succumbing to those scams included:

  • Personal Outreach: A woman named “Kangana” contacted him privately, posing as a Nuvama representative.
  • Fake Website Registration: He was asked to register on a fraudulent investment website.
  • Initial Hook: After investing ₹10,000, his dashboard falsely showed a gain of ₹13,000.
  • Larger Investment: Encouraged by the fake profits, he invested around ₹1.9 crore in total.
  • Fake Returns: By May, the fake platform showed its portfolio had ballooned to ₹35 crore.
  • Blocked Withdrawal: When he tried to withdraw ₹5 crore, the system blocked him, asking for:
    • A processing fee of ₹32 lakh, later reduced to 25% of the withdrawal (₹7.9 lakh).
  • Fake Official Contact: He was introduced to a fake senior executive, “Ashish Kehair”.
  • Complete Loss: After further delays, his account access was revoked, and contacts were blocked.

Only then did Dr Mounissamy realise it was a scam and approached cybercrime authorities.

Cybercrime Experts Warn of Rising WhatsApp Investment Scams

According to experts, such types of scams are increasing in India at an astonishing rate and frequently target people who are often well educated with fake investment opportunities that appear real.

Common tactics include:

Scam Tactic

Description

Fake WhatsApp Groups

Use names of real financial firms to gain trust

Early Gains Shown in Dashboard

Fake returns shown to lure bigger investments

Fake Representatives

Scammers impersonate company executives

Upfront Withdrawal Fees

Victims are asked to pay fees before withdrawal

Blocked Communication

Once money is received, all contact is cut off

What Should You Do to Stay Safe?

Cybercrime units urge people to follow these safety tips:

  • Never trust unsolicited WhatsApp groups claiming to offer investment advice.
  • Verify investment opportunities directly through official company websites or apps.
  • Avoid clicking on unknown links or registering on unverified platforms.
  • Do not pay upfront “processing” or “withdrawal” fees—this is a red flag.
  • If you suspect fraud, report it immediately to the national cybercrime portal: https://cybercrime.gov.in

Final Thoughts

This shows that just about anyone can be a victim of online scams, no matter how experienced they are. Scammers nowadays use more sophisticated methods to impersonate legitimate institutions, so it’s getting trickier by the day and continues to be problematic. Always looking for gaps, calculating what people will do next and wishing they would get fooled. The only thing protecting you from scammer tricks is using your brain. Always confirm before moving forward, and think twice before you invest your funds into anything, especially when quick returns are offered in any situation.