Immigration Officer In Mumbai Duped Of Rs 79 Lakh In Crypto Scam, 10 Booked

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 09:40 IST

Police registered a case against 10 unidentified persons under charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.

An immigration officer has allegedly lost Rs 79 lakh after falling victim to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud, police said on Thursday.

The 41-year-old officer working at Malaysia’s consulate general office in Mumbai, approached the police authorities around one-and-a-half years after the incident, citing severe mental stress and fear of social stigma, officials from the East Region Cyber Police said.

An official said that in January 2024, the officer was added to a WhatsApp group called “EG Plan," where members frequently shared updates and tips related to share trading. Having a basic understanding of the stock market, he found the content credible. Following the group’s guidance, he signed up on a company website and started investing.

Over time, he transferred funds through online transactions and RTGS to more than 18 different bank accounts. In the beginning, he received returns of Rs 1.69 lakh, which boosted his confidence in the scheme.

Encouraged by the initial payout, he went on to invest around Rs 78.85 lakh between April 2024 and June 2025, believing he was putting the money into cryptocurrency trading, the official added.

When he attempted to withdraw his investment and profits, the fraudsters allegedly demanded an additional Rs 18 lakh as “processing fee". But after he refused to pay, all the communication was cut off.

He later informed his bank, which advised him to approach the police.

Following his complaint, police registered a case against 10 unidentified persons under charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Police are currently tracing the bank accounts where the funds were transferred and identifying the account holders, the official said, adding that investigation was underway.

(With inputs from PTI)

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