Nashik: A Nashik resident was allegedly cheated of Rs 8.55 lakh in a fake cryptocurrency trading scheme after he was lured into investing through a woman he met on social media. He later approached the city’s Cyber Police Station and lodged a complaint.According to the complaint, the victim came into contact with the woman on a social media platform on November 14 last year. She subsequently contacted him through internet calls and told him about the benefits of cryptocurrency trading, claiming to be making huge profits from such investments.The woman then persuaded him to open an account on a specific website and asked him to make payments towards various charges, including trading fees, commission and processing fees. Acting on her instructions, the complainant deposited a total of Rs 8.55 lakh into different bank accounts between November 14, 2025, and August 8, 2026.The complainant said the website showed profits accumulating in his account, but he was unable to withdraw the money. He subsequently realised that the trading platform was fake and that he had been duped.The Cyber Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act for cheating.A senior police officer said, “We are currently investigating the case.”
