Ahmedabad: A 38-year-old architect from Sarkhej was allegedly cheated of ₹1.3 crore in a cyber fraud after falling for a social media advertisement promising high returns through stock market investments. The city cybercrime police registered an FIR on Tuesday.

According to the complaint, the victim, who runs an architectural design firm, saw an Instagram advertisement on February 5 claiming assured profits through stock trading and IPO investments. After clicking the link, he filled in personal details, including his mobile number and annual income.

Police said he was later contacted on WhatsApp by a woman posing as an investment adviser, who added him to multiple WhatsApp groups where members regularly shared screenshots and videos showing alleged trading profits. Continuous discussions and coordinated messages made the scheme appear genuine, and the accused, posing as market experts, began guiding him on stock and IPO investments.

The fraudsters then sent him a mobile app link and asked him to register using Aadhaar and PAN details. An account created in his name displayed trading dashboards and fake profit statements, further convincing him of the platform’s authenticity.

Between February 5 and 18, the victim transferred ₹1.3 crore in multiple transactions to various bank accounts provided by the accused. Some payments were made through accounts of his acquaintances. When he tried to withdraw the returns, he was asked to pay additional charges, but no money was released.

Realising the fraud, he contacted the national cybercrime helpline on March 12 and later filed a formal complaint. Police said they are tracing the bank accounts, mobile numbers, WhatsApp groups and digital platforms used in the scam. DeshGujarat