Haripad Expat Loses Over 8 Crore in WhatsApp Stock Market Scam

Alappuzha: A native of Haripad lost over eight crore rupees in a stock market scam after being promised huge profits. The 73- year- old expatriate suffered a loss of 8,08,81,317 rupees. The cybercrime police in Alappuzha have registered a case and launched an investigation following a complaint by the victim’s son.

The victim was contacted via social media, where scammers convinced him through chat that investing in the stock market would yield massive returns. A woman, claiming to represent a stock investment company, persuaded him to install a fake trading app and deposit money.

The app featured a virtual account that allegedly displayed the invested amount and profits. Believing in these fabricated returns, the 73-year-old expatriate transferred around eight crore rupees to the scam group in 73 separate transactions between September 24 and December 20, 2025. Preliminary investigations indicate that the scam was carried out by an inter-state syndicate.

Scammers used a name similar to Reliance Capital Limited to gain trust. They introduced themselves as representatives of “C778 Reliance Capital Investors Hub” and added the victim to their WhatsApp group, which included around 60 numbers, all controlled by the fraudsters. The group circulated fake screenshots of investments and returns to reinforce credibility. Misled by the operation, the victim transferred money from four different accounts in 73 installments.