Cybercriminals target individuals in India through social media scams

Multiple cyber fraud incidents in India have resulted in significant financial losses for victims targeted through social media platforms.

In Greater Noida, a 61-year-old retired government employee lost ₹16.87 lakh after interacting with a fraudulent Facebook advertisement. The ad, which impersonated a nationalized bank, offered assistance with submitting life certificates for pensioners. After clicking a link and downloading a file, the victim was targeted by scammers who bypassed security measures to withdraw funds from his credit card and various bank accounts.

In Nashik, a doctor was defrauded of ₹15 lakh following an Instagram scam promising high returns on investments through a company named ‘Avantika Industries’. Additionally, a businessman lost over ₹40 lakh after being deceived by individuals claiming they could secure bus seat foam tenders for the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation and Maruti Udyog Company. These scammers used fake email addresses and identities to solicit funds under the guise of tender and testing fees.