Mangaluru resident loses ₹46.5 lakh to online fraud

Mangaluru resident loses ₹46.5 lakh to online fraud

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 24, 2025: A Mangaluru resident lost ₹46.5 lakh to online fraud after subscribing to an online investment group between May and June.

The complainant informed the Cybercrime, Economic Offences, and Narcotics wing of the Mangaluru City Police that someone had added their mobile number to a WhatsApp group named ‘Mayfield Trading’. Believing in the message of higher returns on investing in shares, the complainant indicated their willingness to invest.

On May 7, Tom Harris called the complainant, introducing himself as the service manager of the investment group, and sent the complainant a web link for registration. The complainant invested ₹46.5 lakh in a phased manner through RTGS and IMPS. When the complainant attempted to withdraw the proceeds, Harris asked him to pay income tax. Feeling cheated, the complainant approached the police, who then registered a case.

Work from home scam

In another case, a woman from Udupi subscribed to a ‘work from home’ offer from an unknown person. After receiving some money for the work, she was asked to invest more, and the woman invested ₹1.9 lakh from her and her parents’ bank accounts. As she received no returns, she approached the Udupi CEN Police, who registered a case.

A woman from Kundapur lost ₹2.21 lakh to online fraud when she registered for ‘part-time work’ online. The complainant paid ₹2.21 lakh in a phased manner, anticipating higher returns. Learning she had been cheated, the woman filed a complaint with the Kundapur town police.