Mangaluru Police Launch Awareness Campaign to Combat Online Investment Frauds

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 29, 2025: The Mangaluru City Police have initiated a large-scale awareness campaign to educate citizens about the dangers of online investment and other forms of cyber fraud, as incidents of unsuspecting individuals falling victim to such scams continue to rise.

In a statement on Saturday, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy highlighted the surge in cases involving fraudulent investment schemes. He expressed concern over cybercriminals exploiting the financial vulnerability of individuals, especially those from economically weaker sections, by luring them with promises of high returns.

“The police have crafted awareness messages and launched a comprehensive campaign to inform the public about these scams,” Reddy said.

Cybercriminals employ various tactics, including fake websites, WhatsApp and Telegram groups, celebrity endorsements, fraudulent apps, and social media advertisements, to appear legitimate. Once individuals invest their money, the fraudsters disappear, leaving the victims financially devastated.

The police have outlined common red flags in such scams, including guaranteed high returns, urgent deadlines to invest, promises to double or triple returns, unregistered companies or agents, UPI and cryptocurrency payment demands, and fake screenshots showing non-existent profits.

Real-life examples of such frauds reported in Mangaluru were shared to underline the gravity of the issue:
*A Surathkal resident lost ₹1.57 crore to a fraudulent WhatsApp crypto group.
*A KPT resident was duped of ₹37.49 lakh through a fake share market group and bogus tax demands.
*A Panjimogaru resident fell victim to a work-from-home scam on Instagram, losing ₹27.01 lakh.
* A Kankanady resident lost ₹30.55 lakh to a Facebook advertisement for a fake share market scheme.
*A Urwa resident lost ₹13.57 lakh via a Telegram group offering crypto trading tips.

The police have urged citizens to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of investment opportunities before committing any money. The campaign aims to empower the public with knowledge to protect themselves from falling prey to cyber fraudsters.