Agra family alleges ₹16.17 lakh fraud via fake crypto app, files cyber complaint
An elderly Agra resident has allegedly lost ₹16.17 lakh after investing through a mobile application promoted on social media, his family said, prompting a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Portal.
According to the family’s complaint, 70-year-old Rakesh Sharma (age not given in the complaint) of Harmony Residency on Fatehabad Road was drawn into an investment scheme that promised large returns from foreign cryptocurrencies. The complaint, filed by his son, Nakul Sharma, says payments were made between 13 January and 9 February and that the victim’s health suddenly deteriorated following the alleged fraud; he died on 9 February, the family told investigators.
"The family has alleged that his health suddenly deteriorated following the fraud and that he died on February 9."
The complaint describes an approach that began with an advertisement on social media for an organisation named ‘Naka Solution’. After calling the number provided, the caller identified himself as a director named Sitaram and connected Rakesh Sharma with an alleged adviser, Sakshi Jaiswal, the family alleged.
Initial entry into the scheme reportedly began with a payment of ₹8,500. The application shown to the investor allegedly displayed fictitious daily profits, encouraging further deposits. When the victim sought to withdraw funds, the complaint says, the operators demanded additional payments to process the redemption or provide a bank guarantee.
- Initial investment shown on the app: ₹8,500
- Additional deposits through January–February: approximately ₹9 lakh
- Demanded payment to convert crypto to rupees: ₹3.66 lakh
- Payment taken for a purported bank guarantee: ₹3.65 lakh
- Total alleged loss: ₹16.17 lakh
The family named specific persons in the complaint; they allege one named Amit Patel collected ₹3.65 lakh on 5 February as part of a supposed Barclays Bank guarantee. The complaint contends that despite repeated payments totalling ₹16.17 lakh, no money was returned to the victim.
| Date | Action | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan – 9 Feb | Multiple deposits following app prompts | ~₹9,00,000 |
| Initial | Entry payment via app | ₹8,500 |
| 5 Feb | Collected for alleged bank guarantee | ₹3,65,000 |
| Undated (during withdrawal attempt) | Demanded to convert crypto to INR | ₹3,66,000 |
| Total | ₹16,17,500 |
The family registered the complaint on the cybercrime portal, according to the report, and the matter is under investigation. No official statement from local police or from persons named in the complaint was available in the reporting.
Cybercrime experts and consumer-protection groups have repeatedly cautioned investors to be wary of social-media promotions promising high returns, especially those requiring repeated payments to access or withdraw funds. Such schemes often display fabricated account balances or delayed withdrawal functionality to coax further payments before conduct ceases or operators disappear.
For Agra residents, the case highlights persistent risks faced by senior citizens targeted through social media and phone calls. Local authorities have urged citizens to verify investment platforms, check registration details of fintech firms, and report suspicious offers immediately to the cybercrime portal and the nearest police station.
The family has sought a formal probe into the transactions and the circumstances around the victim’s death. The investigation's outcome will determine if criminal charges under cyber fraud and financial crime statutes are pressed against the named individuals and any others implicated by digital forensics.
