In a major breakthrough in a cyber fraud case, the Nashik Rural Police arrested two men from Kozhikode, Kerala, for allegedly cheating a Sinnar-based businessman of Rs2.7 crore through a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme.
According to officials, the victim was initially contacted through Facebook in March 2025, after receiving a friend request from a woman. What began as casual online communication soon turned into a trap. The woman convinced the victim to invest in cryptocurrency through a portal she recommended.
Between July and August, the businessman transferred a total of Rs2.7 crore to the portal, believing it to be a legitimate investment. However, the scheme turned out to be fraudulent.
Under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP) Balasaheb Patil, a special cyber police team led by Police Inspector Nagesh Mohite traced the flow of funds. The team successfully froze Rs20 lakh from one of the suspect accounts and arrested:
Saja Hanun
Abdul Basith Thangal
(both residents of Kozhikode, Kerala)
The two had allegedly received ₹10 lakh from the defrauded amount.
Police Advisory:
SP Patil issued a public warning, urging citizens to:
Avoid trusting unknown social media contacts.
Not share personal or banking details with strangers.
Refrain from clicking unknown links received via SMS or apps.
If anyone becomes a victim of cybercrime, they are encouraged to contact:
1930 / 1945 / 14407
Or report to the nearest cyber police station
This case serves as a serious reminder of the growing threat of online scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrency and social media manipulation.
